With some dignity Gebb accepted the olive branch thus held out, and resumed his seat. Afterward Parge seemed so repentant of his late behaviour that the dignity of Absalom disappeared altogether; and, moreover, the whisky and tobacco proved strong aids to patching up the quarrel. In ten minutes the pair were chatting together in the most amicable fashion. "Well, Absalom," said Parge, with a plethoric grunt, "and how does the matter of that Grangebury case stand now? You know I'm shut up here, and never hear a word of what's going on. Tell me the latest news." "Miss Wedderburn has inherited the Kirkstone property." "She owns the Hall, then?" "Yes, she inherits the Hall, and also Miss Gilmar's personal property. It was left to Alder first, and failing him to Miss Wedderburn, so she is now a rich woman, and I dare say will make a better use of her money than the old skinflint who left it to her." "She'll buy a husband with it, I suppose," said Parge, ill-naturedly. "Don't you make any mistake," contradicted Gebb, friendly to both Edith and Arthur. "She was engaged to Ferris in the days of her poverty, and she'll not throw him over now that she is rich; but there is no purchase about the matter. I dare say Ferris will yet succeed with his pictures. In the mean time, he is to marry Miss Wedderburn, and good luck to both of them, say I. They are as decent a young couple as I know." "When docs the marriage take place?" "Next month. Old Dean can't live long, and he wants to see the pair man and wife before he leaves this very unjust world." "Unjust world!" echoed Simon, incredulously. "Dean has been pardoned, has he not, Absalom?" "Of course; pardoned by the State for a crime he never committed, after passing nearly twenty years in gaol for Miss Gilmar's sake. I don't wonder the old fellow is dying. He is worn out with trouble and a sense of harsh injustice. He has one foot in the grave now, and I expect he'll drop into it as soon as his son marries Edith Wedderburn." "And he didn't kill Kirkstone after all?" "No," replied Gebb, with something of a dismal air. "It appears from the confession left by Miss Gilmar that she struck the blow. Do you remember the bowie-knife mentioned in the evidence as belonging to Dean?" "Yes, the knife with which the man was killed," said Parge. "The sister borrowed it from Dean, didn't she?"