Shivering with terror, Noel Vanstone became like wax in Mrs. Lecount’s hands.  He at once agreed to draw up a new will at her dictation, completely cutting off his wife.  He bequeathed Mrs. Lecount L5,000, and declared that he wished to leave the remainder to his cousin, George Bartram.  Such an arrangement, however, Mrs. Lecount foresaw, might be fraught with those very dangers which she wished to avoid.  George Bartram was young and susceptible.  It was conceivable that Magdalen, robbed of the stake for which she had so boldly played, might, on her husband’s death, attempt to secure the prize by luring George Bartram into a marriage.  At the instigation of his housekeeper, Noel Vanstone therefore bequeathed the residue of his estate absolutely to Admiral Bartram.  But this will was coupled with a letter addressed to the admiral, secretly entrusting him to make the estate over to George under certain circumstances.  He was to be married to, or to marry within six months, a woman who was not a widow.  In the event of his not complying with these conditions, which would prevent his marriage with Magdalen, the money was to go to his married sister.

Having outwitted Magdalen, Mrs. Lecount’s next object was to remove Noel Vanstone down to London.  In order that he might be strong enough to travel, Mrs. Lecount prepared a favourite posset for him.  Returning with the fragrant mixture, she noticed him sitting at a table, his head resting on his hand, apparently asleep.

“Your drink, Mr. Noel,” she said, touching him.  He took no notice.  She looked at him closer Noel Vanstone was dead.

III.—­The Darkest Hour

In pursuance of her determination to discover the secret trust, Magdalen secured a position as parlourmaid in Admiral Bartram’s house.  For days she waited for an opportunity of examining the admiral’s papers.  At night the admiral, who was addicted to sleep-walking, was guarded by a drunken old sea-dog, called Mazey, and in the daytime she could do nothing without being detected.

The secret trust lay heavily on the admiral’s mind, and it became the more unbearable when George Bartram came down and announced his intention of marrying Norah Vanstone.  George’s married sister was dead, and thus one of the two objects contemplated by the secret trust had failed, and only a fortnight remained before the expiry of six months in which George Bartram had to marry in order to inherit the fortune.  The admiral objected to the marriage with Norah Vanstone, but was at a loss how to dissuade George from the match.

While this problem was occupying the admiral’s attention, Magdalen at last found the chance of examining her master’s private apartments.  Mazey, under the influence of drink, had deserted his post, and, with a basket of keys in her hands, Magdalen crept into the room where the admiral kept his papers.  Drawer after drawer she opened, but nowhere could she find the secret trust.