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Screw and Scratch of Pine Street, New York, could possibly want of Claudius, Phil.D. of Heidelberg. His curiosity soon gave way to very considerable surprise. The first part of the letter contained the formal announcement of the sudden decease of Gustavus Lindstrand, of the firm of Barker and Lindstrand of New York. Claudius laid down the letter and sighed.
As I fear that your ignorance of your profession may lead you into some act of folly disastrous to yourself, I will go so far as to inform you that on my return from Europe, two months hence, your proceedings as executor for the estate of the late Gustavus Lindstrand will be subjected to the severest scrutiny. In the meantime, I desire no further communications from you.
He had of course heard in New York of the strange fortune that had befallen Claudius on the death of the well-known Mr. Lindstrand, and now he stood a minute trying to take the measure of the individual before him, not in the least overcome by the physical proportions of the outer man, but struck by the intellectual face and forehead that surmounted such a tower of strength.
Screw," said Margaret haughtily, "I am engaged to be married to Dr. Claudius." "As one of the executors of the late Mr. Gustavus Lindstrand, deceased," proceeded Mr. Screw slowly, "I feel it my duty, as an honest man, to inform you that there are serious doubts as to whether the gentleman who calls himself Dr. Claudius is Dr. Claudius at all.
He took the offered chair, and Claudius sat down upon the bed, which was by no means so far removed in the little room as to make conversation at that distance difficult. "Dr. Claudius?" the stranger repeated, and the Doctor nodded gravely. "Dr. Claudius, the nephew of the late Mr. Gustavus Lindstrand of New York?" "The same, sir. May I inquire to what good fortune I am indebted "
Claudius settled himself in his chair and waited, not having any idea what the business might be. "You will readily understand," continued Mr. Screw, "that in my position I feel obliged to take every conceivable precaution in administering the estate of the late Mr. Lindstrand. You will, therefore, not be offended at what I am going to say.
"Et puis?" said the Countess, raising her eyebrows a little. "Et puis," continued the Doctor, "these legal gentlemen find difficulty in persuading themselves that I am myself that I am really the nephew of Gustavus Lindstrand, deceased." "What nonsense!" exclaimed Margaret. "And so to please them you are going away. And who will get your money, pray?"
The Duke took the papers and untied the smaller package, which appeared to contain legal documents, while the larger seemed to be a series of letters filed in their envelopes, as they had been received. "My mother's name was Maria Lindstrand," said Claudius. He leaned back, smoking the eternal cigarette, and watched the Duke's face.
Gustavus Lindstrand, it might be well if, at your convenience, you could pay a visit to this country." Here Claudius thought it was time to look at the will itself. Unfolding the document, which was very short, he acquainted himself with the contents. There were a few legacies to old servants, and one or two to persons who were probably friends.
"Yes, rather important to you more than to myself, though it concerns me too. You have a new client, I believe; the nephew of our old partner Mr. Lindstrand." "Dr. Claudius?" asked the lawyer, looking up. "He calls himself so, at any rate," said Barker. "What do you mean?" asked Mr. Screw quickly, shifting his position.
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