by Fergus Hume
CHAPTER III
THE WILL
Mr. Durham was a smart young lawyer of the new school. The business wasan old one and lucrative; but while its present owner was still underthirty, his father died and he was left solely in charge. Wiseacresprophesied that, unguided by the shrewdness of the old solicitor, Durhamjunior, would lose the greater part, if not all, of his clients. But theyoung man had an old head on young shoulders. He was clever andhard-worked, and, moreover, possessed a great amount of tact. The resultwas that he not only retained the old clients of the firm, but securednew ones, and under his sway the business was more flourishing thanever. Also Mark Durham did not neglect social duties, and by his charmof manner, backed by undeniable business qualities, he managed to pickup many wealthy clients while enjoying himself. He always had an eye tothe main chance, and mingled business judiciously with sober pleasures.
The office of Durham & Son--the firm still retained the old titlealthough the son alone owned the business--was near Chancery Lane, alarge, antique house which had been the residence of a noble during thereign of the Georges. The rooms were nobly proportioned, their ceilingspainted and decorated, and attached to the railings which guarded thefront of the house could still be seen the extinguishers into whichservants had thrust torches in the times they lighted belles and beauxto splendid sedan chairs. A plate on the front intimated that a famousauthor had lived and died within the walls; so Durham & Son were housedin a way not unbecoming to the dignity of the firm. Mr. Durham's ownroom overlooked a large square filled with ancient trees, and was bothwell-furnished and well-lighted. Into this Sir Simon and his nephew wereushered, and here they were greeted by the young lawyer.
"I hope I see you well, Sir Simon?" said Durham, shaking hands. He was asmart, well-dressed, handsome young fellow with an up-to-date air, andformed a striking contrast to the baronet in his antique garb. As thesolicitor spoke he cast a side glance at Beryl, whom he knew slightly,and he mentally wondered why the old man had brought him along. SirSimon had never spoken very well of Julius, but then he rarely said agood word of anyone.
"I am as well as can be expected," said Sir Simon, grumpily, taking hisseat near the table, which was covered with books, and papers, andbriefs, and red tape, and all the paraphernalia of legal affairs. "Aboutthat will of mine--"
"Yes?" inquired Durham, sitting, with another glance at Beryl, and stillmore perplexed as to the baronet's motive for bringing the young man. "Ihave had it drawn out in accordance with your instructions. It is readyfor signing."
"Read it."
"In the presence of--" Durham indicated Beryl in a puzzled way.
"I can go, uncle, if you wish," said Julius, hastily, and rose.
"Sit down!" commanded the old man. "You are interested in the will."
"All the more reason I should not hear it read," said Julius, still onhis feet.
Sir Simon shrugged his shoulders and turned his back on his tooparticular nephew. "Get the will, Durham, and read it."
It was not the lawyer's business to argue in this especial instance, sohe speedily summoned a clerk. The will was brought, carefully engrossedon parchment, and Durham rustled the great sheets as he resumed hisseat. "You wish me to read it all?" he asked hesitatingly.
Sir Simon nodded, and, leaning his chin on the knob of his cane,disposed himself to listen. Beryl could not suppress an uneasy movement,which did not escape his uncle's notice, and he smiled in a grim way.Durham, without further preamble, read the contents of the will, clearlyand deliberately, without as much as a glance in the direction of theperson interested. This was Julius, and he grew pale with pleasure asthe lawyer proceeded.
The will provided legacies for old servants, but no mention was made ofMrs. Gilroy, a fact which Beryl noted and secretly wondered at. Variousbequests were made to former friends, and arrangements set forth as tothe administration of the estate. The bulk of the property was left toJulius Beryl on condition that he married Lucy Randolph, for whomotherwise no provision was made. The name of Bernard Gore was left outaltogether. When Durham ended he laid down the will with a ratherregretful air, and discreetly stared at the fire. He liked young Goreand did not care for the architect. Therefore he was annoyed that thelatter should benefit to the exclusion of the former.
"Good!" said Sir Simon, who had followed the reading with closeattention. "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 someprovision should be made for your grandson. He has been taught toconsider 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 noparents, and no money--the companion of a crabbed old cat called MissPlantagenet."
"I know," said the young lawyer, nodding. "She is the aunt of LordConniston, 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 didnot intend to tell Beryl that Conniston had been in his office on theprevious 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 henever comes near the place. Did you meet Lord Conniston at MissPlantagenet's, Julius?"
"I have never met him at all," rejoined the meek young man stiffly, "andI 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 thebaronet, 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 fewmonths ago, and I gave him fifty pounds or so. That was after hequarrelled with you, Sir Simon. Since then I have not seen him."
"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 ImperialYeoman," 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 thelawyer. "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, dearuncle, 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," hedeclared. "Bernard has behaved shamefully. I wanted him to marry a MissPerry, who is rich."
"Why can't you let him marry the woman he loves?" said Durham, with someheat. "They can live on ten thousand a year and be happy. What is theuse of getting more money than is needed? Besides, from what I hear,this Mi
ss 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 musttake 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 willsee 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 amsure 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 longday before I inherit the money, dear uncle."
"Make your mind easy," said Sir Simon, dryly. "I intend to live for manya 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 ofthe room. Who knows but what Bernard might say, did I remain, that Iexercised 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 seeyou on Friday when you come for Lucy."
"To take her to the Curtain Theatre. Yes! But I trust I will see youbefore then, uncle." And here, as a clerk entered the room and wasapparently, with Durham, about to witness the will, Julius departed. Hechuckled to himself when he was outside, thinking of his good luck. Butat the door his face altered. "He might change his mind," thought Beryl."There's no reliance to be placed on him. I wish--" he opened and shuthis fist; "but he won't die for a long time."
While Julius was indulging in these thoughts, Sir Simon had taken up thewill to glance over it. He also requested Durham to send the clerk awayfor a few moments. Rather surprised, the lawyer did so, thinking the oldman changeable. When alone with his legal adviser the baronet walked tothe fire and thrust the will into it. Durham could not forbear anejaculation of surprise, "What's that for?"
"To punish Julius," said Sir Simon, placidly returning to his seat, asthough he had done nothing out of the way. "He is a mean sneak. He toldme about Bernard being in love with that girl so as to create trouble."
"But you don't approve of the match?"
"No, I certainly do not, and I daresay that when I insisted on Bernardmarrying Miss Perry that the truth would have come out. All the same itwas none of Beryl's business to make mischief. Besides, he is a slycreature, and if I made the will in his favor, who knows but what hemight not contrive to get me out of the way?"
"No," said Durham, thoughtfully, but well pleased for Bernard's sakethat the will had been destroyed. "I don't think he has courage to dothat. Besides, people don't murder nowadays."
"Don't they?" said Sir Simon; "look in the newspapers."
"I mean that what you think Julius might do is worthy of a novel. Idon't fancy novels are true to life."
"Anything Julius did would be just like a novel. I tell you, Durham, heis a villain of the worst; I don't trust him. I have led him on to thinkthat the will has been made in his favor; and when he learns the truthhe will be punished for his greed."
"But, Sir Simon," argued the lawyer, "by letting him think the will ismade in his favor, you have placed him in the very position which,according to you, might lead to his attempt to murder."
"I'll take care of myself," said the old man, somewhat inconsistently,for certainly he was acting differently to what he said. "By the way,you have the other will?"
"Yes! It leaves everything to Bernard save the legacies, which remainmuch the same. Of course, in the first will is mentioned an annuity toMrs. Gilroy."
"Hum, yes. I left her out of the new will. The fact is, I don't trustMrs. Gilroy. She's too friendly with Julius for my taste."
"I understood her to be on the side of Bernard."
"Oh, she's on whatever side suits her," said Sir Simon, testily."However, let the first will stand. She's a poor thing and has had ahard life. I have every right to leave her something to live on."
"Why?" asked Durham, bluntly. He found Mrs. Gilroy something of amystery, and did not know what was the bond between her and Sir Simon.
"Never you mind. I have my reasons, so let things remain as they are.Bernard can marry Miss Malleson when I am dead if he chooses."
"He thinks he has been disinherited?"
"Yes! I told him so. The truth will come as a pleasant surprise."
"Won't you take him back into favor and tell him?" urged Durham.
"No! not at present. If we met, there would only be more trouble. He hasa temper inherited from his Italian mother, and I have a temper also. Hebehaved very rudely to me, and it's just as well he should suffer alittle. But I don't want him to go to the war. He must be bought out."
"I fear Bernard is not the man to be bought out."
"Oh, I know he is brave enough, and I suppose being bought out at theeleventh hour when war is on is not heroic. All the same, I don't wanthim to be shot."
"You must leave things to chance," said Durham decidedly. "There is onlyone way in which you can make him give up his soldiering."
"What's that?"
"Make friends with him, and ask him to wait till you die."
"No, no, no!" said Sir Simon, irritably. "He must keep away from me fora time. After all, he is the son of his father, and, bad as Walter was,I loved him for his mother's sake. As for the Italian woman--"
"Mrs. Gore! She is dead."
"I know she is. But her brother Guiseppe is alive, and a scoundrel heis. The other day he came to the Hall and tried to force his way intothe house. A gambler, a rogue, Durham--that's what Guiseppe is."
"What is his other name?"
"Tolomeo! He comes from Siena."
"I understood Mrs. Gore--your son's wife--came from Florence."
"So she said. She declared she was the member of a decayed Florentinefamily. But afterwards I learned from Guiseppe that the Tolomeo noblesare Sienese--and a bad lot they are. He is a musician, I believe--aplausible scamp. I hope he has not got hold of Bernard."
"Bernard is his nephew."
"I know that," snapped the old man. "All the same, the uncle is sadly inwant of money, and would exercise an undue influence over Bernard."
"I don't think Gore is the man to be controlled," said Durham, sagely.
"You don't know. He is young after all. But you know, by the will, Ihave put it out of Bernard's power to assist Tolomeo. If he gives him asmuch as a shilling the money is lost to him and goes to Lucy."
"That is rather a hard provision," said Durham, after a pause.
"I do it for the boy's good," replied Gore, rising; "but I must get homenow. By the way, about that lease," and the two began to talk of mattersconnected with the estate.
Sir Simon after this refused to discuss his erring grandson, but Durham,who was friendly to Bernard, insisted on recurring to the forbiddensubject. However it was just when the old man was going that he revertedto the bone of contention, "I wish you would let me tell Bernard thatyou are well disposed toward him."
"Ah! you plead for the scamp," said Sir Simon, angrily.
"Well, I was at Eton with him, you know, and we are great friends. If heis an Imperial Yeoman there will be no difficulty in seeing him."
"Leave matters as they are. I have ascertained that he won't go to thewar for six weeks. Julius found that out for me, so wait till he is onthe eve of sailing. Then we'll see. If nothing else will keep him athome, I'll make it up. But I think a little hardship will do him good.He behaved very badly."
"Bernard is naturally hot tempered."
"So am I. Therefore, let us keep apart for a time. Who knows what wou
ldhappen did we meet. No, Durham, let Bernard think that I am still angry.If Lucy sets a lamp in the Red Window that's a different thing. I shan'tinterfere with her romance."
"The Red Window. What's that?"
"A silly legend of the Gore family of which you know nothing. I have notime to repeat rubbish. I'll come and see you again about that lease,Durham. Meanwhile, should Bernard be hard up, help him out of your ownpocket. I'll make it up to you."
"He wouldn't accept alms. Besides, he has enough to go on with. I havetwo hundred of his money in hand."
"Then I have nothing more to say. I'm sorry the fellow isn't starving.His conduct to me was shameful." And Sir Simon went grumbling home.
"All the same, I'll see Bernard," thought Durham, returning to hisoffice.
