CHAPTER XXXVII. THE TIE BREAKS.

ovements,enteredthelibraryimmediatelyafter. "Good-morning,Mr.Clayton,"hesaid,andthen,noddingpatronizinglytoHarry,hehelpedhimselftoachairandstatedhisbusiness,withoutfurtherpreamble. "IhavereceivedordersfromMr.Gordontocomeandtakepossessionoftheestateandchattelsofhisdeceasedsisterwithoutdelay." AsClaytonsatperfectlysilent,itseemedtooccurtoMr.Jekylthatafewmoralreflectionsofageneralnaturewouldbeinetiquetteonthepresentoccasion.Hethereforeadded,inthetoneofvoicewhichhereservedparticularlyforthatstyleofremark:— "WehavebeencalledupontopassthroughmostsolemnandafflictingdispensationsofDivineProvidence,lately.Mr.Claytonthesethingsremindusoftheshortnessoflife,andofthenecessityofpreparationfordeath!" Mr.Jekylpaused,and,asClaytonstillsatsilent,hewenton: "Therewasnowill,Ipresume?" "No,"saidClayton,"therewasnot." "Ah,soIsupposed,"saidMr.Jekyl,whohadnowrecoveredhisworldlytone."Inthatcase,ofcoursethewholepropertyrevertstotheheir-at-law,justasIhadimagined." "PerhapsMr.Jekylwouldlookatthispaper,"saidHarry,takinghiscontractfromthehandofMr.Clayton,andpassingittoMr.Jekylwhotookouthisspectacles,placedthemdeliberatelyonhissharpnose,andreadthepaperthrough. "Wereyouundertheimpression,"saidhetoHarry,"thatthisisalegaldocument?" "Certainly,"saidHarry."IcanbringwitnessestoproveMr.JohnGordon'ssignature,andMissNina'salso." "Oh,that'sallevidentenough,"saidMr.Jekyl."IknowMr.JohnGordon'ssignature.Butallthesignaturesintheworldcouldn'tmakeitavalidcontract.Yousee,myboy,"hesaid,turningtoHarry,"aslave,notbeingapersonintheeyeofthelaw,cannothaveacontractmadewithhim.Thelaw,whichisbasedontheoldRomancode,holdshim,pronullis,promortuiswhichmeans,Harry,thathe'sheldasnothing—asdead,inertsubstance.That'shispositioninlaw." "Ibelieve,"saidHarryinastrongandbittertone,"thatiswhatreligiouspeoplecallaChristianinstitution!" "Hey?"saidMr.Jekyl,elevatinghiseyebrows,"what'sthat?" Harryrepeatedhisremark,andMr.Jekylrepliedinthemostliteralmanner:— "Ofcourseitis.Itisadivineordering,andoughttobemetinaproperspirit.There'snouse,myboy,inrebellion.Hathnotthepotterpowerovertheclay,tomakeonelumptohonor,andtheothertodishonor?" "Mr.Jekyl,Ithinkitwouldbeexpedienttoconfinetheconversationsimplytolegalmatters,"saidClayton. "Oh,certainly,"saidMr.Jekyl."AndthisbringsmetosaythatIhaveordersfromMr.Gordontostaytillhecomes,andkeeporderontheplace.Alsothatnoneofthehandsshall,atanytime,leavetheplantationuntilhearrives.Ib