Thus far, Mr. Sharp’s management of the business intrusted to him had quite equalled Lewis Rand’s expectations. He acknowledged that it could not have been better done. Feeling that the lawyer’s fidelity¹ was insured by his own interest, he was far from anticipating any risk to his plans from this quarter.

 

Lewis Rand reasoned as a man of the world, showing, it must be admitted, no inconsiderable insight into human character and motives². But there was one thing which he neglected to take into the account. The lawyer might, in the course of his investigations³, discover counter interests, which he might think it better worth his while to further than his client’s.

 

This was actually the case.

 

Lewis Rand had so far taken Mr. Sharp into his confidence, that the lawyer found little difficulty in surmising⁴ how affairs stood. Of the forged will he was ignorant. It 162appeared that the only thing which stood in the way of a reconciliation⁵ between Robert Ford⁶ and his father, was the careful manner in which they had hitherto been kept apart by Lewis. As the latter had confessed, his uncle had been so far desirous of a meeting and reconciliation, that he had ordered an advertisement to be inserted in the leading papers, notwithstanding the probability that his son was no longer living.

 

“Now,” thought Mr. Sharp, “what would be the probable consequence, if some person—I, myself, for example—should bring together the long-separated father and son. Naturally that person would have the satisfaction of knowing that he had made two fellow-beings happy,”—here Mr. Sharp looked fairly radiant with benevolence,—“and also,”—here came in a consideration,—“and also he would stand a chance of being very handsomely rewarded.”

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