|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 96
Nesta interrupted her mother.
"Does any one know the terms of that will?" she asked, looking at
Eldrick. "Tell me!--if you know. Hush!" she went on, as Mrs. Mallathorpe
tried to speak again. "I will know!"
"Yes!" answered Eldrick. "Esther Mawson knows them. She read the will
carefully. She told Prydale just now what they were. With the exception
of three legacies of ten thousand pounds each to your mother, your
brother, and yourself, John Mallathorpe left everything he possessed to
the town of Barford for an educational trust."
"Then," asked Nesta quietly, as she made a peremptory sign to her mother
to be silent, "we--never had any right to be here--at all?"
"I'm afraid not," replied Eldrick.
"Then of course we shall go," said Nesta. "That's certain! Do you hear
that, mother? That's my decision. It's final!"
"You can do what you like," retorted Mrs. Mallathorpe sullenly. "I am
not going to be frightened by anything that Esther Mawson says. Nor by
what you say!" she continued, turning on Eldrick. "All that has got to
be proved. Who can prove it? What can prove it? Do you think I am going
to give up my rights without fighting for them? I shall swear that every
word of Esther Mawson's is a lie! No one can bring forward a will that
doesn't exist. And what concern is it of yours, Mr. Eldrick? What right
have you?"
"You are quite right, Mrs. Mallathorpe," said Eldrick. "It is no concern
of mine. And so----"
He turned to the door--and as he turned the door opened, to admit the
old butler who looked apologetically but earnestly at Nesta as he
stepped forward.
"A Mrs. Gaukrodger wishes to see you on very particular business," he
murmured. "She's been waiting some little time--something, she says,
about some papers she has just found--belonging to the late Mr. John
Mallathorpe."
Collingwood, who was standing close to Nesta, caught all the butler
said.
"Gaukrodger!" he exclaimed, with a quick glance at Eldrick. "That was
the name of the manager--a witness. See the woman at once," he whispered
to Nesta.
"Bring Mrs. Gaukrodger in, Dickenson," said Nesta. "Stay--I'll come with
you, and bring her in myself."
She returned a moment later with a slightly built, rather careworn woman
dressed in deep mourning--the woman in black whom they had seen crossing
the park--who looked nervously round her as she entered.
"What is it you have for me, Mrs. Gaukrodger?" asked Nesta. "Papers
belonging to the late Mr. John Mallathorpe? How--where did you get
them?"
Mrs. Gaukrodger drew a large envelope from under her cloak. "This,
miss," she answered. "One paper--I only found it this morning. In this
way," she went on, addressing herself to Nesta. "When my husband was
killed, along with Mr. John Mallathorpe, they, of course, brought home
the clothes he was wearing. There were a lot of papers in the pockets of
the coat--two pockets full of them. And I hadn't heart or courage to
look at them at that time, miss!--I couldn't, and I locked them up in a
box. I never looked at them until this very day--but this morning I
happened to open that box, and I saw them, and I thought I'd see what
they were. And this was one--you see, it's in a plain envelope--it was
sealed, but there's no writing on it. I cut the envelope open, and drew
the paper out, and I saw at once it was Mr. John Mallathorpe's will--so
I came straight to you with it."
She handed the envelope over to Nesta, who at once gave it to Eldrick.
The solicitor hastily drew out the enclosure, glanced it over, and
turned sharply to Collingwood with a muttered exclamation.
"Good gracious!" he said. "That man Cobcroft was right! There _was_ a
duplicate! And here it is!"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|