Mr. Mordecai Moribund was a pessimist during life and died a violent death. His facial appearance was much disfigured by a sad squint, and this affliction to his eyes contributed in no small degree to the tragedy which at once deprived Mrs. Moribund of a husband and a son. The son, a bright youth of twenty summers, had been sent down from Oxford University by the authorities rather as a warning to others than for any great offence which he had committed. Nevertheless, the disgrace was keenly felt by his mother, and it was for this reason that Mr. Moribund decided to take him for a trip to India, until time had healed the wound.

Arrived in India, Mr. Moribund promised his son, Morton, to arrange for a tiger shooting expedition. This fatal promise caused all the trouble, for Mr. Moribund, owing to his visual defects, thought he observed a tiger approaching from the west and forthwith discharged his rifle. The bullet missed the tiger and passed through the head of the unfortunate Morton, who was thereby killed on the spot. Mr. Moribund, horrified by the accident, moved his position and slid from the back of the elephant right into the jaws of the infuriated animal. Assistance was rendered immediately, and Mr. Moribund was rescued from his unfortunate position, but not before he had sustained injuries from which he succumbed four days subsequently.

Mr. Moribund, by his will, left everything of which he was possessed to his widow absolutely. This property, after deducting debts, amounted to £137,500, but an examination of his affairs disclosed the fact that two years previously he had conveyed as an absolute gift to his son, Morton, the sum of £100,000. This money had been invested by Morton in Bearer Bonds of the Royal Japanese Steamship Company at an average price of £80%, but on the date of Morton's death these Bonds stood at £120%. Morton, by will, had left his entire fortune to a Miss Flossie Teazle, an actress whom he had met at Oxford.

Show what duties were payable to the State as a direct consequence of the Tragedy.

Note.—The following epitaph, shamelessly copied from one in Malmesbury Abbey, was inscribed on Mr. Moribund's Tomb:—