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           Shelookedsomewhatdistressed;so,thinkingthatIunderstoodtheimmediatecause,Iasked:

           "Mayweseethelist?"MissTrelawny’sfaceatoncebrightened;butitfellagainasthelawyeransweredpromptly—hewasevidentlypreparedforthequestion:

           "NotunlessIamcompelledtotakeactiononthePowerofAttorney.Ihavebroughtthatinstrumentwithme.Youwillrecognise,Mr.Ross"—hesaidthiswithasortofbusinessconvictionwhichIhadnoticedinhisprofessionalwork,ashehandedmethedeed—"howstronglyitisworded,andhowthegrantormadehiswishesapparentinsuchawayastoleavenoloophole.Itishisownwording,exceptforcertainlegalformalities;andIassureyouIhaveseldomseenamoreiron-claddocument.EvenImyselfhavenopowertomaketheslightestrelaxationoftheinstructions,withoutcommittingadistinctbreachoffaith.Andthat,Ineednottellyou,isimpossible."Heevidentlyaddedthelastwordsinordertopreventanappealtohispersonalconsideration.Hedidnotliketheseemingharshnessofhiswords,however,forheadded:

           "Idohope,MissTrelawny,thatyouunderstandthatIamwilling—franklyandunequivocallywilling—todoanythingIcan,withinthelimitsofmypower,torelieveyourdistress.ButyourFatherhad,inallhisdoings,somepurposeofhisownwhichhedidnotdisclosetome.SofarasIcansee,thereisnotawordofhisinstructionsthathehadnotthoughtoverfully.