There he was presented with an apparent impossibility; but he had given it careful consideration.

Then, from the category of the impossible he had brought it to that of the possible; from the merely possible to the actually probable; from the probable to the certain; and in the end had won the case triumphantly.
Was it conceivable that he could make anything of the present case?
He had not declined it.

He had certainly entertained it and was probably thinking it over at this moment.

Yet could anything be more impossible?
Here was the case of a man making his own will, probably writing it out himself, bringing it voluntarily to a certain place and executing it in the presence of competent witnesses.

There was no suggestion of any compulsion or even influence or persuasion.