Taking out the will which left everything to Margaret Wallace
except the £5,000, she held it out in front of Cuthbert Grahame.
He read it through.
"That seems all right. Will you help me sign it?"
"Of course I'll help you sign it--now if you choose, though I've
dated it to-morrow, because I thought that would give you a
chance to think things over. I tell you that I shan't rest till
that girl's back into her own again." For some moments he was
silent, then he said--
"Perhaps I was mistaken."
"Mistaken about what?"
"Perhaps it wasn't her voice I heard."
"Man, I tell you you were dreaming."
"Perhaps I was. If you'd driven her from the door you'd hardly
bring me a will like that directly after. Even if you'd let her
in, you might have guessed that she wouldn't have wanted to rob
you of your five thousand."
"Of course she wouldn't, any more than I wanted to rob her. We
women are not so bad as that, whatever you men may think."
"Put the will under my pillow--gently--with her miniature. As
you say, I'll think things over. Maybe I'll sign it to-morrow."
CHAPTER XII
SIGNING THE WILL
Cuthbert Grahame did sign his last will and testament on the
morrow, though hardly in the fashion he intended. The way in
which he was tricked was this.
Before the woman who called herself his wife went down to her
breakfast she paid him a morning call. He had had a more restful
night than usual, so that he was in an exceptional good-humour.
The sight of her seemed almost to give him pleasure. She was all
smiles and sweetness, which were real enough, since she hoped to
be shortly in possession of a boundless stock of happiness. He
began on the subject directly he saw her.
"I'll sign that will of yours."
"That's right; so you shall. But won't you wait till after
breakfast, then we can have up Jane and Martha to be witnesses."
Jane and Martha were the two serving-maids whose absence
yesterday had been so opportune.
"I'll wait. You'll have to have me propped up a little higher; I
shan't be able to sign like this."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account