Children of the rich -- Fiction; England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction
It could hardly be called an answer to her prayer. It is said that
prayers are heard in two places, in heaven and in hell; Elaine
realized with a sudden, shrinking terror that this answer must have
come from hell. The owner of that money was up-stairs, dying; she
believed that he was dying, speechless; she thought it possible that
he might never be able to speak again, this side the grave. The
chances were that he was the only person living who knew that that
money was where it was. It was hardly likely that he would ever
again be able to refer to its existence; she might, therefore, safely
regard it as--what? Say, treasure-trove; it was a convenient word,
treasure-trove; especially as she was placed. One hundred and
twenty-seven pounds! in gold! no one would ever be able to trace it!
ever!
Her eyes, which had opened wider and wider, having in them a very
singular look, a look which would have startled her had they suddenly
glared back at her from a mirror, wandered from the heap of gold coins
to a bag, a canvas bag--a good-sized canvas bag, stuffed, apparently,
to repletion, tied round the top with red tape; the kind of bag, she
was aware, which is used by bankers to contain coin. She touched it,
lightly, with her finger-tips; there were coins inside, undoubtedly;
she could see them bulging through the canvas. She picked it up, again
gingerly, as if, if she did not observe great care, it might explode
in her hand; it had been better for her, perhaps, if it had. It was
heavy, heavier than she had expected; wedged full of money. Beneath it
there was another half-sheet of writing-paper; on it, in Donald
Lindsay's writing, was what was probably a statement of what the bag
contained--"£500." Five hundred pounds! obviously again in gold! She
could feel the sovereigns! and the one person who knew of its
existence dumb and dying!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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