The lawyer turned to look for some papers, which he did not succeed in finding, and, having made a search, turned back again. Captain Desfrayne made no remark whatever. “He offered to do anything, or to help this Mrs. Turquand in any way she would allow him: to put the child to school, or---- In fact, his offers were most generous. But she persistently shunned him, and refused to listen to anything he had to say. He lost sight of her for some years before his death, and did not even know whether she was living or dead. “It was accidentally through--through me,” the lawyer continued, speaking with a visible effort, as if somewhat overmastered by an emotion inexplicable under the circumstances--“it was through me that he learned of the death of the mother and the whereabouts of the daughter.” “The latter being, I presume, the young lady whom he has been kind enough to commit to my care?” Captain Desfrayne asked. Mr. Amberley twirled an ivory paper-cutter about for a moment or two before replying. “Precisely so. I happen to be acquainted with--with the young lady; and he one day mentioned her name, and said how anxious he was to find her. I volunteered to introduce her to him; but he was then ill, and the interview was deferred. He went to Nice, the place where Mrs. Turquand had died, and drew his last breath in the very house where she had been staying. In accordance with his dying wishes, he was buried close by the spot where she was laid. The will was drawn up a few weeks before he quitted England.” “I certainly wish he had selected any one rather than myself for this onerous trust,” Captain Desfrayne said, with some irritation. “What is the young lady’s name? Miss Turquand?” Mr. Amberley hesitated, took up the will, and laid it down again; then took it up, and placed it before Captain Desfrayne. “If you will read that, you will learn all you require to know,” he replied, without looking up. He had been perfectly right in remarking that, if Captain Desfrayne had felt surprised before, he would be doubly astonished when he came to read Mr. Vere Gardiner’s will. Captain Desfrayne was fairly astounded, and could scarcely believe that he read aright. The sum of two hundred and sixty thousand pounds was left, divided equally into two portions, but burdened largely with restrictions. One hundred and thirty thousand pounds was bequeathed to Lois Turquand, a minor, spinster. Until she reached the age of twenty-one, however, she was to receive only the annual income of two thousand pounds.