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Foundations of Linux Debugging Disassembling and Reversing Analyze Binary Code Understand Stack Memory Usage and Reconstruct CC Code With Intel X64 1st Edition Dmitry Vostokov PDF Download

The document is a comprehensive guide on Linux debugging, disassembling, and reversing techniques, authored by Dmitry Vostokov. It covers topics such as analyzing binary code, understanding stack memory usage, and reconstructing C/C++ code using Intel x64 architecture. The book includes detailed explanations, practical projects, and a structured approach to mastering these essential skills in software development and debugging.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
8 views56 pages

Foundations of Linux Debugging Disassembling and Reversing Analyze Binary Code Understand Stack Memory Usage and Reconstruct CC Code With Intel X64 1st Edition Dmitry Vostokov PDF Download

The document is a comprehensive guide on Linux debugging, disassembling, and reversing techniques, authored by Dmitry Vostokov. It covers topics such as analyzing binary code, understanding stack memory usage, and reconstructing C/C++ code using Intel x64 architecture. The book includes detailed explanations, practical projects, and a structured approach to mastering these essential skills in software development and debugging.

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Foundations of Linux
Debugging, Disassembling,
and Reversing
Analyze Binary Code, Understand
Stack Memory Usage, and Reconstruct
C/C++ Code with Intel x64

Dmitry Vostokov
Foundations of Linux
Debugging,
Disassembling, and
Reversing
Analyze Binary Code,
Understand Stack Memory
Usage, and Reconstruct C/C++
Code with Intel x64

Dmitry Vostokov
Foundations of Linux Debugging, Disassembling, and Reversing: Analyze
Binary Code, Understand Stack Memory Usage, and Reconstruct C/C++
Code with Intel x64
Dmitry Vostokov
Dublin, Ireland

ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4842-9152-8 ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4842-9153-5


https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-9153-5

Copyright © 2023 by Dmitry Vostokov


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part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of
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Table of Contents
About the Author���������������������������������������������������������������������������������ix

About the Technical Reviewer�������������������������������������������������������������xi

Preface����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xiii

Chapter 1: Memory, Registers, and Simple Arithmetic�������������������������1


Memory and Registers Inside an Idealized Computer������������������������������������������1
Memory and Registers Inside Intel 64-Bit PC�������������������������������������������������������2
“Arithmetic” Project: Memory Layout and Registers��������������������������������������������3
“Arithmetic” Project: A Computer Program�����������������������������������������������������������5
“Arithmetic” Project: Assigning Numbers to Memory Locations���������������������������5
Assigning Numbers to Registers���������������������������������������������������������������������������8
“Arithmetic” Project: Adding Numbers to Memory Cells���������������������������������������8
Incrementing/Decrementing Numbers in Memory and Registers�����������������������11
Multiplying Numbers�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17

Chapter 2: Code Optimization�������������������������������������������������������������19


“Arithmetic” Project: C/C++ Program�����������������������������������������������������������������19
Downloading GDB�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20
GDB Disassembly Output – No Optimization�������������������������������������������������������20
GDB Disassembly Output – Optimization������������������������������������������������������������25
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26

iii
Table of Contents

Chapter 3: Number Representations��������������������������������������������������27


Numbers and Their Representations�������������������������������������������������������������������27
Decimal Representation (Base Ten)��������������������������������������������������������������������28
Ternary Representation (Base Three)������������������������������������������������������������������29
Binary Representation (Base Two)����������������������������������������������������������������������29
Hexadecimal Representation (Base Sixteen)������������������������������������������������������30
Why Are Hexadecimals Used?�����������������������������������������������������������������������������30
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������32

Chapter 4: Pointers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������33
A Definition���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������33
“Pointers” Project: Memory Layout and Registers����������������������������������������������34
“Pointers” Project: Calculations��������������������������������������������������������������������������36
Using Pointers to Assign Numbers to Memory Cells�������������������������������������������36
Adding Numbers Using Pointers�������������������������������������������������������������������������42
Incrementing Numbers Using Pointers���������������������������������������������������������������45
Multiplying Numbers Using Pointers�������������������������������������������������������������������48
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������51

Chapter 5: Bytes, Words, Double, and Quad Words�����������������������������53


Using Hexadecimal Numbers������������������������������������������������������������������������������53
Byte Granularity��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������53
Bit Granularity�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������54
Memory Layout���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������55
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������58

Chapter 6: Pointers to Memory�����������������������������������������������������������59


Pointers Revisited�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������59
Addressing Types������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������59

iv
Table of Contents

Registers Revisited���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������65
NULL Pointers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������65
Invalid Pointers���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������65
Variables As Pointers������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������66
Pointer Initialization��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������67
Initialized and Uninitialized Data�������������������������������������������������������������������������67
More Pseudo Notation�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������68
“MemoryPointers” Project: Memory Layout�������������������������������������������������������68
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������79

Chapter 7: Logical Instructions and RIP���������������������������������������������81


Instruction Format����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������81
Logical Shift Instructions������������������������������������������������������������������������������������82
Logical Operations����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������82
Zeroing Memory or Registers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������83
Instruction Pointer�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������84
Code Section�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������85
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������86

Chapter 8: Reconstructing a Program with Pointers��������������������������87


Example of Disassembly Output: No Optimization����������������������������������������������87
Reconstructing C/C++ Code: Part 1��������������������������������������������������������������������90
Reconstructing C/C++ Code: Part 2��������������������������������������������������������������������92
Reconstructing C/C++ Code: Part 3��������������������������������������������������������������������93
Reconstructing C/C++ Code: C/C++ Program����������������������������������������������������94
Example of Disassembly Output: Optimized Program�����������������������������������������95
Summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������96

v
Table of Contents

Chapter 9: Memory and Stacks����������������������������������������������������������97


Stack: A Definition�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������97
Stack Implementation in Memory�����������������������������������������������������������������������98
Things to Remember�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������100
PUSH Instruction�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������101
POP Instruction�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������101
Register Review������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������102
Application Memory Simplified�������������������������������������������������������������������������105
Stack Overflow��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������105
Jumps���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������106
Calls������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������108
Call Stack����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������110
Exploring Stack in GDB�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������112
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������115

Chapter 10: Frame Pointer and Local Variables�������������������������������117


Stack Usage������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������117
Register Review������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������118
Addressing Array Elements�������������������������������������������������������������������������������118
Stack Structure (No Function Parameters)�������������������������������������������������������119
Function Prolog�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������121
Raw Stack (No Local Variables and Function Parameters)�������������������������������121
Function Epilog�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������123
“Local Variables” Project����������������������������������������������������������������������������������124
Disassembly of Optimized Executable��������������������������������������������������������������127
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������128

vi
Table of Contents

Chapter 11: Function Parameters�����������������������������������������������������129


“FunctionParameters” Project��������������������������������������������������������������������������129
Stack Structure�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������130
Function Prolog and Epilog�������������������������������������������������������������������������������132
Project Disassembled Code with Comments����������������������������������������������������133
Parameter Mismatch Problem��������������������������������������������������������������������������137
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������138

Chapter 12: More Instructions����������������������������������������������������������139


CPU Flags Register��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������139
The Fast Way to Fill Memory�����������������������������������������������������������������������������140
Testing for 0������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������141
TEST – Logical Compare�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������142
CMP – Compare Two Operands�������������������������������������������������������������������������143
TEST or CMP?���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������144
Conditional Jumps��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������144
The Structure of Registers��������������������������������������������������������������������������������145
Function Return Value���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������146
Using Byte Registers�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������146
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������147

Chapter 13: Function Pointer Parameters����������������������������������������149


“FunctionPointerParameters” Project���������������������������������������������������������������149
Commented Disassembly���������������������������������������������������������������������������������150
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������159

vii
Table of Contents

Chapter 14: Summary of Code Disassembly Patterns����������������������161


Function Prolog/Epilog��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������161
LEA (Load Effective Address)����������������������������������������������������������������������������164
Passing Parameters������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������164
Accessing Parameters and Local Variables������������������������������������������������������165
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������166

Index�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������167

viii
About the Author
Dmitry Vostokov is an internationally
recognized expert, speaker, educator, scientist,
and author. He is the founder of the pattern-
oriented software diagnostics, forensics,
and prognostics discipline and Software
Diagnostics Institute (DA+TA: DumpAnalysis.
org + TraceAnalysis.org). Vostokov has also
authored more than 50 books on software
diagnostics, anomaly detection and analysis,
software and memory forensics, root cause analysis and problem solving,
memory dump analysis, debugging, software trace and log analysis,
reverse engineering, and malware analysis. He has more than 25 years
of experience in software architecture, design, development, and
maintenance in various industries, including leadership, technical, and
people management roles. Dmitry also founded Syndromatix, Anolog.
io, BriteTrace, DiaThings, Logtellect, OpenTask Iterative and Incremental
Publishing (OpenTask.com), Software Diagnostics Technology and
Services (former Memory Dump Analysis Services; PatternDiagnostics.
com), and Software Prognostics. In his spare time, he presents various
topics on Debugging TV and explores Software Narratology, its further
development as Narratology of Things and Diagnostics of Things (DoT),
and Software Pathology. His current areas of interest are theoretical
software diagnostics and its mathematical and computer science
foundations, application of artificial intelligence, machine learning and

ix
About the Author

data mining to diagnostics and anomaly detection, software diagnostics


engineering and diagnostics-driven development, and diagnostics
workflow and interaction. Recent areas of interest also include cloud
native computing, security, automation, functional programming, and
applications of category theory to software development and big data.

x
About the Technical Reviewer
Vikas Talan is a senior engineer at Qualcomm
(an American multinational corporation). He is
the founder of S.M.A.R.T Solutions, a technical
company. He also worked at MediaTek and
Cadence in core technical domains. He has
in-depth experience in Linux kernel
programming, Linux device drivers, ARM 64,
ARM, and porting of Android OS and Linux
drivers on chipsets. He hails from Delhi
NCR, India.

xi
Preface
The book covers topics ranging from Intel x64 assembly language
instructions and writing programs in assembly language to pointers, live
debugging, and static binary analysis of compiled C and C++ code.
Diagnostics of core memory dumps, live and postmortem debugging
of Linux applications, services, and systems, memory forensics, malware,
and vulnerability analysis require an understanding of x64 Intel assembly
language and how C and C++ compilers generate code, including
memory layout and pointers. This book is about background knowledge
and practical foundations that are needed to understand internal Linux
program structure and behavior, start working with the GDB debugger, and
use it for disassembly and reversing. It consists of practical step-by-step
exercises of increasing complexity with explanations and many diagrams,
including some necessary background topics.
By the end of the book, you will have a solid understanding of how
Linux C and C++ compilers generate binary code. In addition, you will be
able to analyze such code confidently, understand stack memory usage,
and reconstruct original C/C++ code.
The book will be useful for

• Software technical support and escalation engineers

• Software engineers coming from JVM background

• Software testers

• Engineers coming from non-Linux environments, for


example, Windows or Mac OS X

xiii
Preface

• Linux C/C++ software engineers without assembly


language background

• Security researchers without assembly language


background

• Beginners learning Linux software reverse engineering


techniques

This book can also be used as an x64 assembly language and Linux
debugging supplement for relevant undergraduate-level courses.

Source Code
All source code used in this book can be downloaded from github.com/
apress/linux-debugging-disassembling-reversing.

xiv
CHAPTER 1

Memory, Registers,
and Simple Arithmetic
 emory and Registers Inside
M
an Idealized Computer
Computer memory consists of a sequence of memory cells, and each cell
has a unique address (location). Every cell contains a “number.” We refer
to these “numbers” as contents at addresses (locations). Because memory
access is slower than arithmetic instructions, there are so-called registers
to speed up complex operations that require memory to store temporary
results. We can also think about them as stand-alone memory cells. The
name of a register is its address. Figure 1-1 illustrates this concept.

© Dmitry Vostokov 2023 1


D. Vostokov, Foundations of Linux Debugging, Disassembling, and Reversing,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-9153-5_1
Chapter 1 Memory, Registers, and Simple Arithmetic

Figure 1-1. Computer memory represented as a sequence of memory


cells and locations

 emory and Registers Inside Intel


M
64-Bit PC
Figure 1-2 shows addresses for memory locations containing integer
values usually differ by four or eight, and we also show two registers called
%RAX and %RDX. The first halves of them are called %EAX and %EDX.

2
Chapter 1 Memory, Registers, and Simple Arithmetic

Figure 1-2. Typical Intel x64 memory and register layout

Because memory cells contain “numbers,” we start with simple


arithmetic and ask a PC to compute the sum of two numbers to see how
memory and registers change their values.

“ Arithmetic” Project: Memory Layout


and Registers
For our project, we have two memory addresses (locations) that we call
“a” and “b.” We can think about “a” and “b” as names of their respective
addresses (locations). Now we introduce a special notation where (a) means

3
Chapter 1 Memory, Registers, and Simple Arithmetic

contents at the memory address (location) “a.” If we use the C or C++


language to write our project, we declare and define memory locations “a”
and “b” as

static int a, b;

By default, when we load a program, static memory locations are filled


with zeroes, and we can depict our initial memory layout after loading the
program, as shown in Figure 1-3.

Figure 1-3. Initial memory layout after loading the program

4
Chapter 1 Memory, Registers, and Simple Arithmetic

“Arithmetic” Project: A Computer Program


We can think of a computer program as a sequence of instructions for
the manipulation of contents of memory cells and registers. For example,
addition operation: add the contents of memory cell №12 to the contents
of memory cell №14. In our pseudo-code, we can write

(14) + (12) -> (14)

Our first program in pseudo-code is shown on the left of the table:

1 -> (a) Here, we put assembly instructions corresponding


1 -> (b) to pseudo-code.
(b) + (a) -> (b)
(a) + 1 -> (a)
(b) * (a) -> (b)

“->” means moving (assigning) the new value to the contents of a


memory location (address). “;” is a comment sign, and the rest of the line is
a comment. “=” shows the current value at a memory location (address).
To remind, a code written in a high-level programming language is
translated to a machine language by a compiler. However, the machine
language can be readable if its digital codes are represented in some
mnemonic system called assembly language. For example, INC a is
increment by one of what is stored at a memory location “a.”

“ Arithmetic” Project: Assigning Numbers


to Memory Locations
We remind that “a” means location (address) of the memory cell, and it is
also the name of the location (address) 000055555555802c (see Figure 1-3).
(a) means the contents (number) stored at the address “a.”

5
Random documents with unrelated
content Scribd suggests to you:
possessed by the late Mr. Martindale is bequeathed to
me by an error; and therefore I must positively, though
respectfully, decline accepting more than the devisor
apprehended he had bequeathed to me.
“I have written on the same subject, and to the
same purpose, to Signora Rivolta; and I wait to know
hers and your lordship’s will and pleasure concerning
the matter in question.
“I have the honor to be, &c.”
When the above letter arrived at Trimmerstone, his lordship was
busily engaged in inspecting the progress of the operatives at the
old hall.
Part of the building had been promptly made fit for his lordship’s
residence; and as his establishment was now very small, he was not
reluctant to use the contracted residence assigned to him. We have
already intimated that the Earl of Trimmerstone was depressed in
spirits: it is indeed very natural that he should be. The life which he
had led, the companions with whom he had associated, the
disappointments which he had experienced, his foolish marriage, the
disgraceful conduct of his silly countess, the taunts and reproaches
of his opulent relative, the weariness and disgust that he felt in
having nothing to do, and the annoyance of an empty title, which
merely mocked him with the epithet of Right Honorable, all these
things combined to render him almost disgusted with, and weary of
life.
In this humor he went to Trimmerstone, and took up his abode at
the miserable old hall. The gloom of the building was quite in unison
with the feelings of his mind, and he very contentedly set himself
down to lament over the vanity of life, and to make amends for his
past transgressions by growling right surlily at the sins of others. His
solitude was soon invaded by a visit from the rector of
Trimmerstone, who was rather fanatical in his theology, and finical in
attire and address. Neither of these qualities were, in the first
instance, agreeable to his lordship; but the Rev. Marmaduke Sprout
had the capacity for flattery in a very high degree. He could
presently render himself agreeable to any person of exalted rank by
his very courteous and conciliating demeanour; and he possessed a
peculiar softness and gentleness of manner, with which indeed the
Earl of Trimmerstone would, in his past days of cock-fighting, horse-
racing, and boxing, have been thoroughly disgusted. But his lordship
was quite an altered man. He did not exactly know what was the
matter with himself, till Mr. Sprout introduced to his fretful and
fidgetty lordship the subject of fanaticism. That became an excellent
antistagnator, and set all his fancies and vagaries at work in quite an
opposite direction to that which they had hitherto taken. Formerly,
the lowest pursuits under the name of sport or fancy had been
agreeable to his lordship; and every species of religious sentiment
he had regarded with the profoundest contempt and the most
unmingled abhorrence. But now he was sick, and weary of all these
things; and because one extreme was purely offensive and
wearisome, he took it for granted that the opposite must be truly
delightful and highly consistent, and so under the tuition of Mr.
Sprout, he changed and reversed all his habits, good, bad, and
indifferent. From staking thousands at a horse-race, he turned up his
eyes at the grievous abomination of half-crown whist; and, indeed,
had he been disposed to card-playing, he could not have indulged
himself at Trimmerstone, for Mr. Sprout had banished almost all
card-playing from the place, so that there was not a pack of cards in
the parish, except two or three mutilated well-thumbed packs of
quadrille-cards, which were still used by a knot of antiquated
spinsters worthy of the good old days of Sacheverel and High
Church. Quadrille-cards will not do for whist, for all the eights, nines
and tens are thrown out. Formerly, Lord Trimmerstone used to be
proud of giving some of his acquaintance a sumptuous dinner; but
now he had changed all that, and he only kept one female cook,
who could just manage to make a comfortable and snug little dish or
two for his lordship’s own self, occasionally assisted by the Rev. Mr.
Sprout. Formerly, his lordship had been disposed to be lively, and
oftentimes facetious; but now he was prodigiously grave, and almost
sulky. Formerly, his lordship never went to church; now he went
twice every Sunday, and said Amen as loud as the clerk, and with
much more solemnity, for the clerk did not turn up his eyes for fear
of losing the place. Formerly, his lordship had been very candid; now
he had become exceedingly censorious, and he seemed to measure
his religion by the severity with which he reproved transgressors. His
lordship several times attempted to make all the inhabitants of
Trimmerstone go to church twice every Sunday, except his own
cook. But in this his lordship could not succeed, and indeed it was
well for him that he could not; for if he had, the church would have
been so crowded that he could not have enjoyed a great, large,
lined, stuffed, padded, carpeted pew for himself.
Though Lord Trimmerstone was a zealous convert to Mr. Sprout’s
theory of the national religion, yet that theory was not quite obvious
and distinct to his lordship’s apprehension; and often did he blunder
in the enunciation of his theory, and awkwardly did he sometimes
express himself when he thought he was contending for the truth:
for he has been known to rebuke the unepiscopal worshippers in
barns and outhouses for holding the pestilential doctrines of election
and predestination. This was pardonable in a young beginner; but
Mr. Sprout set him right, and showed that the doctrines of
predestination and election had been sometimes erroneously
apprehended to mean predestination and election, whereas the
proper view of the subject was that they meant election and
predestination.
That part of fanaticism which consists in gloominess and
moroseness, his lordship could manage to admiration; for he was
thoroughly disgusted with every thing and every body. We cannot
resist the inclination to observe in this part of our narrative, how
very just and appropriate a punishment is fanaticism for gross
immorality. When the mind has spurned the meeker and gentler
bonds of religious principle and conscientious thought, it is rightly
punished by the withering rigors of fanaticism, and the gloomy
terrors of superstition. Under these influences was now lying the Earl
of Trimmerstone. And he was engaged in conversation with the Rev.
Marmaduke Sprout, when there was delivered into his lordship’s
hands the above-mentioned letter of Horatio Markham.
His lordship made the apology usual on such occasions, and
forthwith opened and read Markham’s letter. As soon as the reading
was finished, his lordship said, “This is very honorable conduct in Mr.
Markham.”
Then handing the letter to Mr. Sprout, he said, “Read this letter,
sir, and let me have your advice, how I ought to act under present
circumstances.”
The reverend gentleman took the letter bowing, and perused it
with great attention, and returned to his lordship with another bow,
and a smile of satisfaction at being let into a great man’s confidence;
and said,
“Really, my lord, I hardly know how to advise. Cases do
sometimes occur in which there is a great deal of difficulty, and this
appears to me to be one of them.”
By this speech, though delivered with the solemnity of an oracle,
very little information was communicated to his lordship. When
people ask for advice, they should, in order to save their friends a
great deal of trouble, state explicitly what sort of advice they wish to
have. It is for want of this honesty and explicitness that so much
good advice is continually thrown away.
His lordship was now fairly puzzled and perplexed. It was
necessary to send some answer to the communication of Markham;
and his lordship had discernment enough to perceive that this
gentleman was truly a scrupulous and conscientious man. The
present transaction proved that fact abundantly. For nine hundred
and ninety-nine persons out of a thousand would, without much if
any hesitation, have accepted the legacy in question. That feeling in
Markham, to which some persons might be inclined to give the name
of moral prudery, prevented him from availing himself of a decided
error; and on the other hand, his dislike of ostentatious magnanimity
and heroics placed him in an unpleasant situation in making an offer
of surrendering the legacy.
Notwithstanding the various lectures and the great and clear
information which Mr. Sprout had communicated to Lord
Trimmerstone, concerning those views of religion most suitable to
fanaticism, his lordship was but imperfectly initiated: therefore,
when he had read Markham’s letter, and handed it over to Mr. Sprout
for his perusal also, his lordship could not help observing,
“This is really very meritorious conduct in Mr. Markham, there is
not one man in a thousand who would have acted thus under these
circumstances.”
To this Mr. Sprout very seriously and solemnly replied, “Your
lordship will excuse me, but I must observe that there is nothing
meritorious in human actions.”
“Mr. Sprout,” said his lordship, “I will not contend with you for a
word; but you must grant, that notwithstanding the supreme
importance of faith, which I am quite ready to allow, there is a great
difference in human actions, and that some conduct is better than
other. There are multitudes who have not faith who frequently
perform virtuous actions, and live according to the principles of
morality.”
The clergyman shook his head, and said, “Mere heathen morality.”
“And that,” replied Lord Trimmerstone, “is better than no morality
at all.”
It could not be entertaining to our readers to pursue the long and
elaborate arguments by which the rector of Trimmerstone attempted
to prove that virtue was of no value but of great importance. We
therefore proceed with our narrative.
When the discussion was concluded, and his lordship was
abundantly convinced that he knew nothing about the matter, he
directed his thoughts to the subject of Markham’s letter: and as the
divine had given all the advice upon the business which he was able
to give, he took his leave; and the Earl of Trimmerstone remained
alone to consult with his own thoughts.
All that his lordship could think was, that this conduct of Markham
was very handsome. But that was not enough. It would not be a
very satisfactory answer to Markham should his lordship say merely
that such conduct was very handsome. After much deliberation, his
lordship came to the conclusion, that it would be best to have an
interview with Markham on the subject, and to make inquiry into all
the particulars, resolving to compel the barrister to the acceptance
of as much as he could force upon him.
With this view his lordship sent to Markham an immediate
acknowledgment of the receipt of his communication, proposing at
the same time a meeting with him for the purpose of entering into
the particulars of the affair; for Markham’s letter had not sufficiently
to his lordship’s apprehension explained the cause and nature of the
error in the will.
Markham’s letter to Signora Rivolta received also an immediate
answer, and that answer was decisive. The lady, after complimenting
the barrister for his very honorable conduct, said, that it was quite
out of the question that she or her family could have, according to
the laws of England, any claim whatever on any part of the property,
save that which was literally and expressly bequeathed to them; and
that if any remained unappropriated or unclaimed, the only person
who had aught to do with it must of course be the heir-at-law.
Thus it seemed that the business was brought into a small
compass, resting only between Markham and Lord Trimmerstone.
And though his lordship’s moral susceptibility might not have been
quite so acute and delicate as Markham’s, yet when such an appeal
as this was made to his feelings, he could not but entertain some
thoughts of disinterestedness: for the disinterestedness of the
residuary-legatee was so powerful, as to excite in his lordship’s mind
a degree of sympathy and a corresponding feeling.
CHAPTER XVII.
“He could not do it handsomer than thus.”

Shirley.

An arrangement was made that Lord Trimmerstone should meet


the residuary-legatee at Brigland, at the house and in the presence
of Mr. Denver, whose testimony on the subject was of so much
consequence in settling the point in question. For on the face of the
matter, Markham was clearly and unequivocally entitled to the
residue of the late Mr. Martindale’s property, after payment of the
various legacies named in the will; but from what the devisor just
before his decease had said to Mr. Denver, it appeared that he was
not conscious that the bequest appropriated to Markham was any
thing near so valuable as by the acknowledgment of Mr. Price it
turned out to be.
The perplexity occasioned by wills is not often of such a nature as
that now recorded. It is indeed refreshing to the moral eye to
contemplate such an instance of sound and healthy moral feeling.
Markham was not so inexperienced as to be ignorant of the value of
money, or so romantic and visionary as to despise opulence; but had
sense enough to know, and had been observant enough to see, that
money does not command every thing, and that it may be
purchased at too high a price.
When Markham had received Lord Trimmerstone’s note, he
immediately called on Mr. Denver to inform him of the intention of
the meeting, and to request that he would have the goodness to let
his lordship know precisely, or as distinctly as he could recollect, all
that Mr. Martindale had said to him concerning his motive in altering
the will. The clergyman expressed much astonishment at this
proposed meeting, and said,
“What! does my Lord Trimmerstone intend to dispute the will? I
am very positive that it is really and truly the actual will of the late
Mr. Martindale; and I can very distinctly recollect all that the old
gentlemen said.”
“No, Mr. Denver,” replied Markham, “his lordship has not expressed
any such intention; but there appears to have been some
misapprehension in the mind of our late friend as to the actual
amount of his property, and what we wish to ascertain from you is,
whether Mr. Martindale in bequeathing twenty thousand pounds to
Mr. Price, did not imagine that he was giving him more than would
have come to him as a residuary-legatee.”
“Certainly,” said Mr. Denver, “that was what Mr. Martindale said in
my hearing. He also said, that another reason for altering his will
was that he might put your name into it; and I am very glad to hear
that your legacy is so much more than you expected. I have heard
that Mr. Price feels himself very much disappointed.”
With a slight frown and a look of thoughtfulness, Markham replied,
“I am not so well pleased as you may imagine with the unexpected
greatness of this legacy, it puts me into a very awkward position. I
can by no means think of taking more than Mr. Martindale intended
to give me, and it is very unpleasant to appear in the light of
conferring an obligation on Lord Trimmerstone.”
Mr. Denver expanded his countenance into a broad look of
astonishment, and said, “Bless me, Mr. Markham, why how very
scrupulous you are! I cannot see how any body can blame you for
taking the legacy. It was not your doing that Mr. Martindale was
ignorant of the full value of his property. Though between ourselves,
and I hope you will not let it go any farther, I dare say that Mr. Price
used no little pains to keep Mr. Martindale in the dark with a view of
coming into a handsome fortune as residuary-legatee.”
“And would you have me, Mr. Denver, to take an advantage of
another’s wrong?”
“I cannot see,” replied the clergyman, “why you should not: you
are not injuring any one. Lord Trimmerstone has quite as much as
he expected, and I dare say that he will not desire to deprive you of
any part of what falls to your lot.”
Not even the authority of the divine could convince Markham that
he should be acting rightly in availing himself of the bequest to its
full extent; and there was also in his mind another objection—he
was ambitious, as we have before observed, of high reputation; and
it would have interfered greatly with his comfort and happiness, had
he thought that any persons who at all knew him, had the slightest
suspicion that there was any thing in his character that savored of
meanness or littleness; nor would he have been pleased to have
owed his good fortune merely to accident. These feelings may be
fastidious, but they have their use; and though they may not exist
very widely, or influence the minds of many individuals, yet they
have a power in society, and are useful in keeping up the standard
of morals and integrity. If it were not for an occasional example of
individuals rising above the ordinary level, the influence of the
multitude beneath it would gradually but surely sink the standard,
and lead to serious deterioration.
According to appointment, Lord Trimmerstone, a few days after,
came to Brigland, for the purpose of discussing with Markham the
perplexities of the will. The meeting took place at the house and in
the presence of Mr. Denver. When his lordship entered the room he
held out his hand with great cordiality to Markham, and did not at all
seem to feel his dignity abated by familiarity of address to one of
whose understanding and moral worth he had the very highest
opinion. So much good had fanaticism done to his lordship, as to
render him less haughty in his outward demeanour, and to prompt to
at least the semblance of courtesy.
“Mr. Markham,” said the Earl, “I have received a letter from you
which has very much surprised me. Do I understand it aright?”
“The letter, my lord, which I sent to you, was simply to inform you
that on looking into the affairs of your lordship’s late relative, Mr.
John Martindale, I find, to my great astonishment, that his property
far exceeds what by his will seemed his own apprehension of the
extent of it; and therefore that the legacy which devolves to me as
residuary-legatee, is much greater than the devisor apprehended or
designed. Under these circumstances, therefore, I wrote to your
lordship, as one of the nearest relatives of the deceased, to know
what might be your will as to the disposal of the property.”
His lordship smiled and said, “My will, Mr. Markham, is, that you
should take possession of whatever my cousin has bequeathed to
you. For if your legacy had turned out to be less than you expected,
I dare say that you would not have applied to me to increase it; and
now that it happens to be more, why should I consent to diminish
it?”
“Had it been a little more or a little less, my lord, it would have
been superfluous to take notice of it; but when I know that it was
Mr. Martindale’s intention to leave me only ten or fifteen thousand
pounds, I cannot with any propriety avail myself of an absolute error
which puts me in possession of a very large fortune. By this error, I
am placed in a very unpleasant situation.”
“But how are you sure, Mr. Markham, that this is an error? I see
pretty well how the case stands. You have not sent for Mr. Price to
meet us on this occasion: you had compassion on his feelings. I
have long suspected that this man has not been acting quite
honestly towards my late relative. I know that he expected to be
residuary-legatee; and he has concealed, or at least endeavoured to
conceal, from Mr. Martindale the real extent of his property: but you
must have known that my cousin was a shrewd observant man; and
is it not possible that having detected the trickery of this confidential
gentleman, he may have resolved thus to disappoint him?”
“I can hardly admit that, my lord,” replied Markham; “for Mr.
Denver has told me that when this last will was made, Mr. Martindale
expressed himself desirous of leaving to Mr. Price something more
than would devolve to him as residuary-legatee; and I can hardly
suppose that Mr. Martindale would have left him any thing at all had
he detected him in such a transaction. I thank you, my lord, for the
construction which you are liberally disposed to put on the will; but I
cannot indeed, and I will not avail myself of what I consider as an
absolute error.”
Lord Trimmerstone listened seriously, looked thoughtfully, and at
last, after a considerable pause, said, “Well, Mr. Markham, if it must
be so it must; but I sincerely tell you, I am sorry that you are so
scrupulous. You really put me into an unpleasant situation; for if it
be not honorable for you to accept the property, I cannot think that I
should be acting honorably in availing myself of your generosity.”
“My lord,” continued Markham, “you must not call it generosity. I
am acting upon what I conceive to be a principle of simple justice. I
might of course take advantage lawfully of the error; but law and
justice so far differ, inasmuch as justice must depend upon
circumstances; and the letter of a written law cannot change
according to varying events and unforeseen accidents.”
This was all very true and very proper. Lord Trimmerstone could
not but admire and commend Markham’s spirit. On the other hand,
Markham was astonished at the apparent change in Lord
Trimmerstone’s manners, which were not as they had been, those of
a proud and vulgar man of high rank, but civil, gentle, and
courteous. The fanatic principle had really done his lordship some
good. Nothing short of that could have checked him in his gambling
course, or brought him from the society of his reckless and heedless
companions. It is true that there was not a very complete, nor, in all
respects, an entirely advantageous change in his manners. He had
become somewhat morose and cynical; and from being delighted
with excesses, he had become snarlingly disgusted at temperate
pleasures; and he looked with a kind of moral contempt upon those
characters which had stood, in a moral point of view, much higher
than his own. But at all events, to get rid of ruinous and profligate
habits is desirable, and worth some sacrifices.
The interview between Markham and the Earl of Trimmerstone
terminated in the conclusion, that the former should take as his
legacy a sum equal to that which was devised to Mr. Price; and that
the Earl of Trimmerstone should appropriate, according to his own
will and pleasure as heir-at-law, that part of the property which
Markham contended had not been, morally speaking, devised to any
one.
It is not designed that our readers should imagine that the Earl of
Trimmerstone readily and easily consented to the above-named
arrangements; but it is thought unnecessary to narrate at greater
length the dialogue which took place between the parties on the
subject. Every well-constituted and healthy mind will naturally and
easily suppose what arguments Markham used, and by what
objections they were met on the part of his lordship; and those who
cannot imagine what was said would not understand, enjoy, or
believe it, were it written out for them fully and literally.
Markham triumphed, or gained his point by virtue of possessing
the strongest and best exercised mind of the two; but it was not
without great reluctance that Lord Trimmerstone consented to
regard that large residue of his late relative’s property as being
undisposed of by the will: for his lordship had never been a mean or
selfish man in the days of his profligacy and libertinism; and now
that he had altogether changed his manner of life, and had seriously
and soberly set about a reformation of his manners, and was amply
supplied by his late relative’s bequest with all the means which he
could desire, he really did feel anxious to perform an act of
generosity, and would willingly, for the sake of the reputation of the
action, have surrendered the property in question to Markham, even
had there been any doubt as to the legal accuracy of the bequest.
It was therefore a matter of concern to him that he had not been
able to prevail on the barrister to take quietly the bequest which was
his by law. The feeling of generosity was also strongly excited in his
mind by means of sympathy with Markham. There was something so
accurately and purely honorable in Markham’s conduct on this
occasion, that the force of it was irresistible; and a much less liberal
mind than that of Lord Trimmerstone could not deliberately, coolly,
and selfishly, have taken advantage of it. Nor was it till Markham had
represented how much his mind was oppressed by the reflections
which he anticipated would be cast on him by the world, that Lord
Trimmerstone would consent to have any thing whatever to do with
it. When, however, Markham made his lordship understand that the
favor was conferred by him who received, and not by him who
surrendered the doubtful bequest, then did he accept the disposal of
the property in question.
CHAPTER XVIII.
“Had many a man such fortune as I,
In what a heaven would they think themselves.”

Tailor.

It now became necessary for Markham to return to London; but


he forgot not, in his way thither, to pay his dutiful respects to his
parents. It is true that he had been placed in a very unpleasant
situation, by the unexpectedly large bequest of the late Mr.
Martindale; so that, however pleased he might be with an
opportunity afforded him of being serviceable to his father, there was
an alloy in that pleasure by means of the error in the will, or rather
the misapprehension of the devisor. So mingled is the complexion of
life’s events, that our brightest days are not cloudless, and our
darkest nights are not without some glimmering of a friendly star;
and surely we may be content to have our joys a little abated, when
by the same token we may anticipate that our sorrows will be
somewhat alleviated.
After the interview which Markham had had with the Earl of
Trimmerstone he felt his mind lightened of burden, and his spirits
were greatly revived. And, considering that he wore the habiliments
of sorrow, he carried on his countenance the aspect and look of
much cheerfulness and composure of mind: for he was happy in the
consciousness of having done that which he knew and felt to be
right.
For Markham’s sake and our own we must be allowed a short
digression on the subject of bright faces and black suits. It is a piece
of arrant foolery, and detestably silly cant, to make a sneering
prating about the manner in which people bear or feel the loss of
their friends or relatives. Sorrow is not to be measured by
everlasting length of face: any one may assume dull, cold,
melancholy looks, and heave sighs with every passing minute; but
they who most regret the departed have oftentimes brighter and
gayer looks than those who think they ought to be sorry, but feel
that they are not. Markham regretted the loss of a good friend, of a
cheerful companion, of a kind patron, and good adviser; but
Markham had reason, good reason, to be pleased and satisfied with
himself, that he had got rid of what might be a reproach, and that
he possessed the means of saving his venerated and respected
parents from the calamity of an old age of poverty and privation.
He spent a very short time with his father and mother, and then
hastened to town to give immediate attention to his professional
duties, and to his business as executor.
The intelligence of what was called his good fortune reached town
long before him. Many and ridiculous were the rumors concerning
the immense property which had devolved to him. So outrageous
and unfounded were the tales told of his wealth, that had he been
disposed to say it, he might have persuaded not a few that his riches
were equal to or beyond the largest known property in the kingdom.
At his chambers he found a myriad of cards. The little card-racks
which Miss Henderson had painted for him were choked even to
suffocation. Cards were on his chimney-piece, and cards were lying
on his table. There also appeared a goodly host of prospectuses and
syllabuses and proposals; and specimens and schemes; and
catalogues and first numbers of new periodicals, and shop-bills, and
addresses to the public, and cases of distress; and plans of estates,
and notices of sale, and recommendatory letters and applications for
places; and letters from coachmen, footmen, butlers, stable-boys,
postilions, cooks, housemaids, housekeepers, kitchen-maids, valets,
and a multitude of others too numerous to mention. There was a
whole week’s work before him to read them all.
At sight of all this he sighed, stared, shaked his head and smiled;
and he thought to himself, that it was a very good thing that he was
not prime minister, for then he should be pestered with myriads
more applications, and with matters not so easy to be disposed of.
His card-rack was a complete memorandum-book, for there he
read the names of every individual whom he had ever seen or
spoken to, and besides them a great many more. What could be
more natural than for Mr. Jackson to say to Dr. Smith, “I am going to
call on Markham?” And what could be more natural than for Dr.
Smith to say, “I will go with you, and you may introduce me?” So
then Markham’s friend, Jackson, leaves his card, and Jackson’s
friend, Dr. Smith, leaves his card too.
Markham had never been of a covetous disposition; but now he
felt most especially and peculiarly delighted, that there was no
foundation for the intemperate and extravagant reports concerning
his immense wealth.
A paradoxical friend of ours, who makes it a rule to believe every
thing that all the world disbelieves, and to disbelieve all that the rest
of the world believes, has started an ingenious theory concerning
the “fortunate youth,” who made such a noise some years ago. It is
our friend’s theory, that the story of his immense wealth was
perfectly true, but that he found so much trouble in the disposal of
it, and was annoyed by and threatened with such a host of
applications, dependents, and acquaintances, that to get rid of all
trouble he destroyed all the documents of his wealth, and sunk back
for the sake of ease and quiet into his original insignificance and
obscurity.
There is some plausibility in this theory; and it must be
acknowledged that such was Markham’s state of mind at those
symptoms of botheration which he saw in his chambers, in his card-
racks, and on his table, that it would not have been much to be
wondered at, if, on the supposition that his wealth was really so
great as it was reported to be, he had adopted the same plan to get
rid of his annoyances.
Knowing, however, that so great a weight of responsibility did not
rest upon him, he perused and glanced over these solicitations of
attention with a much more calm and composed mind. Very few of
them appeared to him deserving of notice; and as far as concerned
the callers, whose cards adorned his racks, there were not above
five per cent that needed any return. With respect to some of them
he thought, rather humorously indeed, that it might be advisable to
send them back to their owners accompanied with an affidavit sworn
before the Lord Mayor, that Horatio Markham’s legacy did not exceed
twenty thousand pounds.
There was one place, however, where he resolved to pay his
immediate respects, and for which no hint of card-leaving was
necessary. This call was of course on the daughter of the late Mr.
Martindale. Under present circumstances, such call was absolutely
necessary; it was also to himself highly and truly agreeable. He had
not forgotten, nor could he well forget Clara Rivolta. He was quite
uncertain what place he now held in her esteem; he knew not what
might be the effect of attempting to renew the acquaintance; and
Markham was quite as delicate and fastidious in affairs of the heart
as in affairs of the purse. He recollected also the stern-looking
Father Martini, and he thought of the force of bigotry and fanaticism,
and of the power which superstition has over many minds otherwise
intelligent, rational, and amiable. There was in his mind also the
thought that so far as pecuniary matters were concerned, there was
not now that objection which formerly there had been; and he
thought also that Dr. Crack had taken Miss Henderson away from
amongst the obstacles, and that Mr. Tippetson had very effectually
disposed of himself: there remained therefore but one impediment,
but that one might be insuperable.
Markham found the mother and daughter together as usual. But
notwithstanding his previous determination to observe as accurately
and attentively as possible the looks and manners of Clara and her
mother, so as to draw some decisive inferences from them, he found
himself too deeply interested and too much agitated to make any
thing like a satisfactory observation. These ladies had of course
heard something of the rumors which were so loudly and widely
circulated respecting Markham’s good fortune; but they were not by
any means aware of the extent of Mr. Martindale’s property; he
might for aught they knew have left behind him fifty times the
amount attributed to him. They would not, however, and could not
believe the dirty insinuations that Markham had endeavoured, and
but too successfully, to induce the old gentleman to bequeath to him
an unreasonable and enormous share of his wealth.
Signora Rivolta knew, or fancied she knew, Markham’s character
too well to imagine it possible that he should have been guilty of any
thing like meanness. In the language also of the letter which he had
written to her on examining into the affairs of the deceased, there
was obviously a strong and clear feeling of sincerity. The daughter of
the late Mr. Martindale therefore received the executor and
residuary-legatee with great cordiality, and the manners of
confidence and friendship.
Markham was so far in self-possession as to see that he was not a
totally unwelcome visitor. This discovery gave him some little
confidence; but it was possible, and he thought of that possibility,
that all suspicion of his designs towards Clara had vanished from the
mind of Signora Rivolta. He began to speak about the departed, to
state the nature of the property which he had left behind him.
Signora Rivolta listened, more as a matter of duty than of interest or
curiosity. Markham explained that some months must elapse before
the property could be appropriated according to the will of the
testator.
“Mr. Markham,” said the mother of Clara, “I am perfectly well
satisfied that the business is placed in very proper hands, and I
thank you for the trouble which you are taking. I hope, too, that my
Lord Trimmerstone has not suffered you to give way to that romantic
generosity which you spoke of in your letter to me.”
“Excuse me, madam,” replied Markham, “I do not consider that
there was any thing romantic or even generous in the surrender to
which you refer. I am desirous of preserving on my mind the
recollection of my late worthy friend; and I could not dwell with
satisfaction on this recollection, if I were sensible of having taken an
advantage of an error to withhold from his family what of right
belongs to them.”
“Such feelings are an honor to you, sir; but I cannot think that the
Earl of Trimmerstone will take advantage of your scrupulous feelings.
I know very little of his lordship, but I do not think him capable of
such a want of generosity.”
“The Earl of Trimmerstone,” replied Markham, “is by no means
deficient in generosity; that was never his character. But I am happy
to say that I have been able to convince and persuade his lordship
of the propriety of his taking upon himself the disposal of that
property, which I consider, and which every honest man would
consider, as unappropriated by its late possessor.”
The daughter of the late John Martindale was not slow in
apprehending the feeling of Horatio Markham; and it was pleasant to
Clara to hear such conversation between the barrister and her
mother.
This conversation was presently interrupted by the entrance of
that frightful-looking priest, whose inquisitor-like visage had so
horrified Markham a short time before. The young man would have
retired, but Signora Rivolta desired him to stay, and forthwith she
introduced him by name to the dreaded priest. And when Father
Martini spoke to the barrister, there was in his voice something not
altogether unpleasant. There was solemnity and formality, but there
was also kindness and even persuasiveness; and as Markham
entered more particularly into conversation with him, there were in
his sentiments and expressions strong manifestations of liberal
feelings and comprehensive views. Now as Markham knew that
Father Martini was zealous for the faith and discipline of his own
church, he also supposed that he must be grossly ignorant and
illiberal. Markham’s reasoning run thus: Father Martini professes a
religion which is absurd and irrational; therefore Father Martini must
be an absurd and irrational man: Father Martini professes a religion
which assumes to be the only way of salvation; Father Martini,
therefore, must suppose that all the rest of the world must be lost,
and therefore he must be exceedingly illiberal. Older men than
Markham, and men of greater pretence than he, have used the
same leaky logic, without perhaps acknowledging it to themselves.
Not frequently is it forgotten that nine times out of ten a man’s
character has more influence on his religion than his religion has on
his character; as a man’s shoe more frequently takes the shape of
his foot, than his foot takes the shape of his shoe. But discussions of
this nature are for shoemakers and theologians. So we proceed with
our narrative.
Markham became rather pleased with the aged priest, and was
also pleased with himself for his own liberality. The priest also was
pleased with Markham, and thought him a very promising subject for
conversion, on account of the great candour with which he spoke of
the Catholic church, and the temperate manner in which he
discussed divers points on which, in their interview, they happened
to touch. The logic of the priest was not indeed much better than
the logic of Markham; for candour towards an opponent is not
always a symptom of conversion to the said opponent’s creed or
theory. There needs, in order to conversion, a strong principle of
partisanship. This our young friend possessed not. Nevertheless, the
two happened to be well pleased with each other; and there is some
good, some religion even, in brotherly love. There is not a great
superabundance of that article in the world; whenever therefore it
does appear, it should be greeted well.
Markham, after a long conversation with Father Martini, retired.
When he was gone, the priest observed to Signora Rivolta that he
could not think that so ingenuous a young man could be a very
obstinate heretic; but that, in all probability, if some few of his
prejudices could be removed, he might be induced, as being a man
of good sense, to embrace the Catholic faith. Precisely the same
opinion did Markham entertain concerning Father Martini. It was a
great pity, the barrister thought, that a man of such liberal feelings,
enlightened views, and benevolent disposition, should have been
brought up in a faith so contradictory to common sense, and so
revolting to the understanding, and all the best feelings of the mind.
Both were thus happy in their own thoughts, and pleased with their
own theories.
Clara Rivolta now listened with unusual interest and earnestness
to the conversation which passed between her mother and Father
Martini; and every moment was she in expectation, in trembling
expectation, of hearing something said concerning the arrangement
recommended, in order to keep herself in the steady profession of
the Catholic faith. But the conversation took a more secular turn,
and mention was made of the will of the late Mr. Martindale.
Signora Rivolta was a little surprised at the very particular and
earnest manner in which Father Martini inquired concerning the will
and its particulars.
“You should have inquired, father,” said she, “when the gentleman
who has just left us was present. He is one of the executors, and is
in possession of all the several specifications and items of the will.”
“And who,” said the priest, “is inheritor of the greater part of the
property?”
“That,” replied the lady, “is doubtful. From the little that I can
recollect of the will, I believe it was Mr. Martindale’s design to give
the greater part of his property to the Earl of Trimmerstone; but, in
consequence of some error or misapprehension as to the extent and
value of the property, I understand that a very large proportion,
perhaps nearly half, devolves to Mr. Markham as residuary-legatee.”
“And was he related to Mr. Martindale?”
“No, father,” replied Signora Rivolta; “but an accidental
acquaintance led Mr. Martindale to think very highly of this
gentleman’s moral and intellectual qualities; and observing his
disinterestedness and good feeling in various instances, it was the
intention of my late father to leave him a legacy; and the young
gentleman has shown a proper, and perhaps an almost refined and
fastidious feeling on the subject.”
Hereupon Signora Rivolta went on to state the particulars, of
which the reader is already in possession. Father Martini on this
looked thoughtful; and several times he was about to speak, but he
checked himself, and at last he abruptly said, “Of what does the
property consist?”
“That I cannot tell you,” said the daughter of the late John
Martindale; “but Mr. Markham will be here again to-morrow, and you
may learn from him all that you wish to know on the subject.”
CHAPTER XIX.
“I can inform you by experience now,
How great a satisfaction ’tis to find
A heart and head eas’d of a weighty care.”

Tuke.

On the following morning the priest was again at the house of


Signora Rivolta, and met, as he expected, with the barrister. Their
greeting on the present occasion was far more agreeable than it had
been before. They had a mutual good opinion of each other; and the
old man could not but be pleased with the tale which he had heard
the preceding day of the honorable and upright conduct of
Markham. Father Martini addressed himself, after some common-
place observations, very seriously and in set terms to the executor.
“Mr. Markham, I have heard from this worthy lady of an act of
justice on your part which does you great credit:” Markham bowed.
The priest continued: “I understand that you conscientiously have
offered to surrender the property to the heir-at-law.”
“I have so, sir,” replied Markham, “and for that purpose I have had
an interview with the Earl of Trimmerstone, who is the heir-at-law;
and as soon as the business can be arranged, the property will be
delivered to him: for I consider that, as heir-at-law, he has a right to
all that is not otherwise expressly willed.”
“And can you tell me,” continued Father Martini, “what relation the
Earl of Trimmerstone is to the late John Martindale?”
Before Mr. Markham could answer that question, the conversation
was interrupted by the announcement and arrival of a stranger; and
who should that stranger be, but the Right Hon. the Earl of
Trimmerstone himself! It is not the first time in the experience of
humanity that a person, whose name has been mentioned in
conversation, has suddenly and unexpectedly made his appearance.
When his lordship therefore entered the apartment, the conversation
concerning him ceased; and Father Martini was under the necessity
of suspending his curiosity relative to his proximity of relationship to
the late John Martindale.
Signora Rivolta looked as if she expected that the priest would
take his departure on the arrival of Lord Trimmerstone; but Father
Martini looked as if he was fully resolved to stay and hear all that
might pass. There is something very awkward in that arrangement
of civilised society, which allows us to ask persons to come into our
houses, but does not permit us to dismiss them when we please. In
consequence of having no regular form for this, sometimes
important, purpose, we are under the necessity of having recourse
to the roundabout plan of giving hints more or less broad; and
sometimes these are not understood, and sometimes they are given
so clumsily as to partake very strongly of the nature of rudeness.
People are not invited into their neighbours’ houses merely by hints;
and why should they be sent away by mere hints?
Lord Trimmerstone, however, did not seem to regard the presence
of Father Martini, but expressed himself very glad to meet with
Markham. “I have been at your chambers, Mr. Markham,” said his
lordship, “and was directed to you here. Otherwise,” turning to
Signora Rivolta, “I should have taken the liberty to have appointed a
meeting here.”
The lady bowed, as signifying that such meeting would not have
been taking too great a liberty.
“The business on which I have called is concerning this perplexing
affair of my late worthy relative’s will. I am sorry to find that our
good friend here is so very scrupulous in the matter of his legacy;
but he insists upon it that I, as heir-at-law, must have the disposal of
it. The time was, madam, that I could have spent this and as much
more in folly and vanity. I have now done with the world. I hate it. I
abhor it. I have been deceived and disappointed. I have felt and I
have seen, and I am disgusted with its vanities. I cannot use this
property, and I will not abuse it. It needed only a certain ceremony
to have been performed many years ago to have constituted you
heir-at-law to this property, now fastidiously refused by our friend
here. It was not your fault that that ceremony was not performed.”
Father Martini stayed to some purpose: for at this point he
interrupted the speaker, saying, with great earnestness and energy
of manner, “That ceremony was performed. I myself performed it;
and I have in my possession proofs of it.”
It was very natural, at such a speech as this, that every person in
the room should start and stare, and stand speechless for a few
seconds, and then say, “Indeed!” The effect, however, was not quite
so electric. The individual most concerned in the discovery seemed
the least moved of the party. The priest then went on to state the
particulars, and produce his proofs. These proofs might have been
satisfactory or not: there was no disposition in any of the party to
question them. The documents were slightly looked over by his
lordship; who was pleased to congratulate Signora Rivolta on the
discovery, and to acknowledge her as a relative. His lordship then
smiling, said, “I feel myself very happy in this discovery, inasmuch as
it relieves me of a burden, and saves me from the use of those
arguments and persuasions, which I might otherwise have been
compelled to use to persuade you, madam, to suffer me to
relinquish in your favor that property which our scrupulous friend
refuses to accept. I am satisfied that my late relative did not
consider his foreign marriage valid, or I am sure he would have
made a different disposal of his property. I will not, however, carry
my scruples so far as to affect a relinquishment on this ground of
that which has been bequeathed to me. The questionable surplus is,
however, clearly yours.”
His lordship then took his leave of the party and returned to
Trimmerstone, where he amused himself with rebuking the follies of
his own past life, and enjoying the high consideration which his rank
gave him among his dependents and tenants. But he felt himself
dissatisfied with the world, and hardly knew how to discriminate
between the regret of past pleasures and the remorse for past
follies.
There now arose another difficulty; and Markham had now to use
to Signora Rivolta the same arguments which he had previously used
to the Earl of Trimmerstone. Signora Rivolta had said that Lord
Trimmerstone ought not to have accepted the surrender; with what
propriety could she, after that avowal, accept it herself?
During the discussion which took place after Lord Trimmerstone
had departed, the mother of Clara observed, by the frequent
direction of Markham’s looks, that his thoughts were still on that
subject what they had ever been. She saw and knew that there was
also a responsive feeling on the part of her child, and it was in her
resolution to yield to that affection. Without speaking decisively on
the subject of the property which now solicited her acceptance, she
desired that another meeting might take place on the following day.
This was hint enough for Markham to take his leave. The venerable
priest departed at the same time. He was mightily pleased with the
liberal and good feeling of the young heretic, and was not without
some hopes of converting him. They walked together towards
Markham’s chambers.
It was late, and Markham pressed the old gentleman to dine with
him. And their conversation grew extremely animated after dinner,
and the priest was so communicative that he actually told Markham
of the intention of proposing, and that immediately, to place Clara in
a religious house on the continent. The enamoured barrister found
that no time was to be lost; and though it might not be altogether
consonant to his exquisitely refined notions of disinterestedness, he
resolved to take the earliest opportunity of offering his hand to
Clara. There is a point beyond which disinterestedness and
generosity are not expected to proceed. Markham saw that he was
now at that point; and as soon as his guest had left him, he wrote a
note to Signora Rivolta, and another to Clara.
These notes were received early on the following morning; and
soon after them, and before the arrival of Father Martini, the
barrister was at the house of Signora Rivolta, and whether it was
accidental or intentional, Clara was alone in the drawing-room.
Markham’s notes were on the table. The young gentleman saw the
notes, and that they had been opened; and he knew by the
countenance of the young lady that they had been read, and he
thought that they had produced the effect designed. We have made
very particular inquiries of both parties as to what was said by each,
but we could not persuade them to tell us: in fact, they both
protested that they did not know. We are sorry for this, because it
would have made a beautiful scene, and have filled a chapter in a
style perfectly original.
From this moment the interest of the narrative ceases; and we
have only to say, that the parents of Markham lived to see their son
enjoy the fruits of integrity and intellect; and that Signora Rivolta
was more leniently disposed towards heretics than Father Martini
thought perfectly safe; and for fear he should witness her apostacy,
he returned to Italy. Colonel Rivolta may be seen any day during the
season smoking a cigar in Pall Mall.

THE END.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY A. J. VALPY, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

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10. ISMAEL, or the ADVENTURES of a KUZZILBASH;


a Tale of Khorasan. 3 vols. post 8vo. 31s. 6d.
“The Kuzzilbash is a fine moral tale of great power and extraordinary interest. It
is long, indeed, since a novel of such merit has fallen into our hands.”—London
Weekly Review.

11. The RED ROVER. By the Author of “The Spy,” “The Pilot,”
“The Prairie,” &c. Second Edition, 3 vols. post 8vo. 28s. 6d.
“Another tale of the sea, a companion worthy of the Pilot, and superior to any
description of nautical scenes hitherto laid before the public, not even excepting
those of our own Smollet. Cooper the American novelist has no living superior.”—
Scotsman.

12. ENGLISH FASHIONABLES AT HOME; a Novel, by the


Author of “English Fashionables Abroad.” 3 vols. post 8vo. 31s. 6d.
13.The HISTORY of GEORGE GODFREY, related by
Himself. 3 vols. post 8vo. price 28s. 6d.
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