AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mr. Warburton disengaged himself, bowing.
"I regret I was not able to come before, sir," he said primly.
"I make no doubt you travelled back as quickly as possible--come in,sir."
He led the lawyer into the room and shut the door.
"Sit down, Warburton--sit down. You--you found my brother?"
Again Warburton bowed.
"I had the felicity of seeing his lordship, sir."
"He was well? In good spirits? You thought him changed--yes? Agedperhaps, or--"
"His lordship was not greatly changed, sir."
Richard almost stamped in his impatience.
"Come, Warburton, come! Tell me everything. What did he say? Will hetake the revenues? Will he--"
"His lordship, sir, was reluctant to take anything, but upon maturerconsideration, he--ah--consented to accept his elder son's portion. Therevenues of the estate he begs you will make use of."
"Ah! But you told him that I would touch nought belonging to him?"
"I tried to persuade his lordship, sir. To no avail. He desires you touse Wyncham as you will."
"I'll not touch his money!"
Warburton gave the faintest of shrugs.
"That is as you please, sir."
Something in the suave voice made Richard, from his stand by the desk,glance sharply down at the lawyer. Suspicion flashed into his eyes. Heseemed about to speak, when Warburton continued:
"I believe I may set your mind at rest on one score, Mr. Carstares: hislordship's situation is tolerably comfortable. He has ample means."
"But--but he lives by--robbery!"
Warburton's thin lips curled a little.
"Does he not?" persisted Carstares.
"So he would have us believe, sir."
"'Tis true! He--waylaid me!"
"And robbed you, sir?"
"Rob me? He could not rob his own brother, Warburton!"
"Your pardon, Mr. Carstares--you are right: his lordship could not rob abrother. Yet have I known a man do such a thing."
For a long minute there was no word spoken. The suspicion that had dweltlatent in Carstares' eyes sprang up again. Some of the colour drainedfrom his cheeks, and twice he passed his tongue between his lips. Thefingers of his hand, gripping a chair-back, opened and shutspasmodically. Rather feverishly his eyes searched the lawyer's face,questioning.
"John told you--told you--" he started, and floundered hopelessly.
"His lordship told me nothing, sir. He was singularly reticent. Butthere was nothing he could tell me that I did not already know."
