"Tell me, Beryl, do you really believe he committed the crime?" "I answered that indirectly before. Yes, I believe he was guilty." "Then it is just as well he is dead." "Just as well," asserted Beryl, quickly. "You don't think he can have escaped?" Julius started. "What makes you think so?" he demanded uneasily. "Well, you see, Bernard was a good swimmer, and--" "The best swimmer in the world could do nothing against the current of the Thames on a foggy night. On a fine day I dare say he might have gained the opposite bank, but in the fog he must have circled round and round until he was exhausted." "Yet, his clothes were discovered on the bank," persisted Durham. "I wonder if I offered a reward, would anything be discovered?" "His corpse might," said Beryl, unpleasantly, "but no reward shall be offered. Better let sleeping dogs lie." "But surely, Mr. Beryl, if you inherit the property, you will seek for the poor fellow's dead body?" "No," replied Julius decisively. "I think it is best to leave things alone. Bernard committed a vile act, and if his body has been swept out to sea all the better for his memory and the position of the family. I shall offer no reward." Durham, seeing the young man was absolutely certain of his inheritance, and that he was prepared to act in a most niggardly spirit, looked out of the window to hide a smile. "Poor Sir Bernard," he said. "Sir Bernard?" questioned the supposed heir, raising his eyebrows. "Certainly. On the death of Sir Simon, Bernard took the title!" "He hasn't enjoyed it long," said Beryl, with so villainous a sneer that the lawyer longed to pitch him out of the carriage, "and seeing he is dead I suppose the title becomes extinct." "It does," assented Durham gravely. "Bernard was the only heir in the direct line." Julius shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I'll be quite content with the money," said he. "Here we are," said Durham, as the carriage stopped. "By the way, Miss Plantagenet and Miss Malleson have come to hear the will read. I hope you don't object." "Yes, I do," retorted Beryl, angrily, as he alighted. "They would have shown better taste had they remained away." "But remember Miss Malleson has lost Bernard." "All the better for her. She would have had a miserable life with that fellow." Durham suppressed a violent inclination to punch the man's head, but, knowing what punishment awaited him, he walked up the steps with a contemptuous smile. Here was a change indeed from the meek Julius of the old days. This presumed heir was obnoxious and insolent, thinking he was absolutely certain of entering into his kingdom. The lawyer was by no means a vindictive person, but it afforded him a certain amount of satisfaction when he thought of the irony of the situation.