Miser Farebrother: A Novel (vol. 3 of 3)Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
General
Miser Farebrother: A Novel (vol. 3 of 3)
Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
Fiction
"A Juryman: 'You say he was a kind master. Was he in other respects a
kind man?'--'Very kind and considerate; he deserved greater happiness
than he enjoyed.'
"Being asked to explain the meaning of this statement, the witness
exhibited a reluctance to reply, and said he was sorry he had let the
words slip. He was, however, pressed to explain, and he then said that
the deceased was made very unhappy by the want of affection shown to him
by his daughter.
"The Juryman: 'Was he kind to his daughter?'--'Very kind.'
"'Was there any disagreement between them?'--'There was continual
disagreement; but it was not my master's fault. He did all he could to
please her.'
"'Do you know the cause of this disagreement?'--'It was partly about
money.'
"'That she asked for, and that he would not give?'--'Yes.'
"'But you said he was very kind to her. The deceased was a man of means.
Why should he refuse to give his daughter money?'--'From what my master
said to me at different times, it was because she demanded sums of money
for purposes of which he did not approve. He was exceedingly liberal to
her where she herself was concerned; but he objected to his money being
given to persons who hated him.'
"'To what persons do you refer?'--'To her relatives in London--the only
relatives she has.'
"'What is the name of these relatives?'--'Lethbridge. They live in
Camden Town.'
"'And Miss Farebrother wanted money for them?'--'According to what my
master said, she was always wanting money for them.'
"'Was she in the habit of visiting them?'--'Continually.'
"'With the consent of the deceased?'--'Against his consent. He
frequently remonstrated with her for paying long visits to persons who
bore him such ill-will.'
"'In spite of these remonstrances she continued to visit them?'--'Yes.'
"'Mention has been made of a man who was in the habit of visiting the
deceased in his home at Parksides late at night. Do you know anything of
him?'--'Nothing, except what my mother has told me and has told you.'
"'Did he not visit the office in London?'--'No. I never saw him.'
"'Did no conversation ever pass between you and the deceased respecting
him?'--'None.'
"'Then you do not know upon what business he came?'--'No; but it could
not have been upon the affairs of the London business, or I should have
heard it.'
"The only questions put to this witness by Mr. Cornwall were these:
"'By what train did you leave for London on the occasion of your last
visit to the deceased?'--'By the 8.12.'
"'Did you go direct to the office when you reached London?'--'Yes.'
"'At what time did you arrive at the office?'--'At about ten o'clock.'
"'You sleep there?'--'Yes.'
"The next witness called was Mrs. Lethbridge, whose evidence was to the
following effect:
"'You are a relative of the deceased?'--'I am his sister-in-law.'
"'Were you upon friendly terms with him?'--'No.'
"'Nor any of your family?'--'No. But we are not to blame for that.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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