The will provided legacies for old servants, but no mention was made of Mrs. Gilroy, a fact which Beryl noted and secretly wondered at. Various bequests were made to former friends, and arrangements set forth as to the administration of the estate. The bulk of the property was left to Julius Beryl on condition that he married Lucy Randolph, for whom otherwise no provision was made. The name of Bernard Gore was left out altogether. When Durham ended he laid down the will with a rather regretful air, and discreetly stared at the fire. He liked young Gore and did not care for the architect. Therefore he was annoyed that the latter should benefit to the exclusion of the former. "Good!" said Sir Simon, who had followed the reading with close attention. "Well?" he asked his nephew. Beryl stammered. "I hardly know how to thank you. I am not worthy--" "There--there--there!" said the old man tartly. "We understand all that. Can you suggest any alteration?" "No, uncle. The will is perfect." "What do you think, Durham?" said Gore, with a dry chuckle. "I think," said the lawyer, his eyes still on the fire, "that some provision should be made for your grandson. He has been taught to consider himself your heir, and has been brought up in that expectation. It is hard that, at his age, he should be thrown on the world for--" "For disobedience," put in Beryl, meekly. Sir Simon chuckled again. "Yes, for disobedience. You are not aware, Durham, that Bernard wants to marry a girl who has no name and no parents, and no money--the companion of a crabbed old cat called Miss Plantagenet." "I know," said the young lawyer, nodding. "She is the aunt of Lord Conniston, who told me about the matter." "I thought Lord Conniston was in America," said Julius, sharply. "I saw him before he went to America," retorted the solicitor, who did not intend to tell Beryl that Conniston had been in his office on the previous day. "Why do you say that? Do you know him?" "I know that he has a castle near my uncle's place." "Cove Castle," snapped Sir Simon. "All the county knows that. But he never comes near the place. Did you meet Lord Conniston at Miss Plantagenet's, Julius?" "I have never met him at all," rejoined the meek young man stiffly, "and I have been to Miss Plantagenet's only in the company of Bernard." "Aha!" chuckled Sir Simon. "You did not fall in love with that girl?" "No, uncle. Of course I am engaged to Miss Randolph." "You can call her 'Lucy' to a near relative like myself," said the baronet, dryly. "Do you know Miss Malleson, Durham?" "No. I have not that pleasure." "But no doubt Bernard has told you about her." Durham shook his head. "I have not seen Gore for months." "Are you sure? He inherits a little money from his father; and you--" "Yes! I quite understand. I have charge of that money. Gore came a few months ago, and I gave him fifty pounds or so. That was after he quarrelled with you, Sir Simon. Since then I have not seen him."