"Then he does not know that I am in Crimea Square."
"Not that I know of. Certainly not from me. Is he in town?"
It was Beryl who answered this. "Bernard has enlisted as an Imperial
Yeoman," said he.
"Then I think the more of him," said Durham quickly. "Every man who can,
should go to the Front."
"Why don't you go yourself, Durham?"
"If I had not my business to look after I certainly should," replied the
lawyer. "But regarding Mr. Gore. Will you make any provision for him,
Sir Simon?"
"I can't say. He deserves nothing. I leave it to Julius."
"Should the money come into my possession soon," said Julius,
virtuously, "a thing I do not wish, since it means your death, dear
uncle, I should certainly allow Bernard two hundred a year."
"Out of ten thousand," put in Durham. "How good of you!"
"He deserves no more for his disobedience to his benefactor."
Sir Simon chuckled yet again. "I am quite of Julius's opinion," he
declared. "Bernard has behaved shamefully. I wanted him to marry a Miss
Perry, who is rich."
"Why can't you let him marry the woman he loves?" said Durham, with some
heat. "They can live on ten thousand a year and be happy. What is the
use of getting more money than is needed? Besides, from what I hear,
this Miss Malleson is a charming girl."
"With no name and no position," said Sir Simon, "a mere paid companion.
I don't want my grandson to make such a bad match. If he does, he must
take the consequences. And he will--"
"Certainly he will," said Beryl, anxious about the signing of the will.
"He has been hard-hearted for months, and shows no signs of giving in.
Since I am to inherit the money I will allow Bernard two hundred a year,
or such sum as Sir Simon thinks fit."
"Two hundred is quite enough," said the baronet. "Mr. Durham, we will
see now about signing this will."
"Can I not persuade you to--"
"No! You can't persuade me to do anything but what I have done. I am
sure Julius here will make a better use of the money than Bernard will.
Won't you, Julius?"
"I hope so," replied Beryl, rising; "but I trust it will be many a long
day before I inherit the money, dear uncle."
"Make your mind easy," said Sir Simon, dryly. "I intend to live for many
a year yet."
"I think I had better go now," observed Julius, rising.
"Won't you stop and see the will signed?"
"No, uncle. I think it is better, as I inherit, that I should be out of
the room. Who knows but what Bernard might say, did I remain, that I
exercised undue influence?"
"Not while I am present," said Durham, touching a bell.
"All the same I had better go," insisted the young man. "Uncle?"
"Please yourself," replied Gore. "You can go if you like. I shall see
you on Friday when you come for Lucy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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