The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
He lay some time with his eyes closed; and Caleb could feel--for Mr.
Lisle held him firmly by the hand, as if to prevent his going away--a
convulsive shudder pass over his frame. At last he slowly opened his
eyes, and Caleb saw that he was indeed about to depart upon the long
journey from which there is no return. The lips of the dying man
worked inarticulately for some moments; and then, with a mighty
effort, as it seemed, he said, whilst his trembling hand pointed
feebly to a bureau chest of drawers that stood in the room:
"There--there for Lucy; there, the secret place is"----Some inaudible
words followed, and then, after a still mightier struggle than before,
he gasped out: "No word--no word--to--to Sowerby--for her--Lucy."
More was said, but undistinguishable by mortal ear; and after gazing
with an expression of indescribable anxiety in the scared face of his
awestruck listener, the wearied eyes slowly reclosed--the deep silence
flowed past; then the convulsive shudder came again, and he was dead!
Caleb Jennings tremblingly summoned the house-servant and the
landlady, and was still confusedly pondering the broken sentences
uttered by the dying man, when Mr. Sowerby hurriedly arrived. The
attorney's first care was to assume the direction of affairs, and to
place seals upon every article containing or likely to contain any
thing of value belonging to the deceased. This done, he went away to
give directions for the funeral, which took place a few days
afterwards; and it was then formally announced that Mr. Sowerby
succeeded by will to the large property of Ambrose Lisle; under trust,
however, for the family, if any, of Robert Lisle, the deceased's
brother, who had gone when very young to India, and had not been heard
of for many years--a condition which did not at all mar the joy of the
crafty lawyer, he having long since instituted private inquiries,
which perfectly satisfied him that the said Robert Lisle had died,
unmarried, at Calcutta.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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