Of course,
I could only stammer out my thanks. The will was duly finished,
signed, and witnessed by my clerk. This is it on the blue paper,
and these slips, as I have explained, are the rough draft.
Mr. Jonas Oldacre then informed me that there were a number of
documents -- building leases, title-deeds, mortgages, scrip,
and so forth -- which it was necessary that I should see
and understand. He said that his mind would not be easy until
the whole thing was settled, and he begged me to come out to his
house at Norwood that night, bringing the will with me, and to
arrange matters. `Remember, my boy, not one word to your
parents about the affair until everything is settled. We will
keep it as a little surprise for them.' He was very insistent
upon this point, and made me promise it faithfully.
"You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to
refuse him anything that he might ask. He was my benefactor,
and all my desire was to carry out his wishes in every particular.
I sent a telegram home, therefore, to say that I had important
business on hand, and that it was impossible for me to say how
late I might be.
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