‘You are aware that Miss Amedroz was not Mrs Winterfield’s niece?’

’Do not think for a moment that I am criticizing the amount of the legacy.  I am very glad of it, as, without it, there was literally no provision no provision at all.’

‘You will write to herself?’

’Oh yes, certainly to herself.  She is a better man of business than her father and then this is her own, to do as she likes with it.’

‘She can’t refuse it, I suppose?’

‘Refuse it!’

’Even though she did not wish to take it, it would be legally her property, just as though it had been really left by the will?’

’Well; I don’t know.  I dare say you could have resisted the payment.  But that has been made now, and there seems to be an end of it.’

At this moment a clerk entered the room and handed a card to his employer.  ‘Here’s the heir himself,’ said Mr Green.

’What heir?

‘Will Belton the heir of the property which Mr Amedroz holds.’  Captain Aylmer had soon explained that he was not personally acquainted with Mr William Belton; but, having heard much about him, declared himself anxious to make the acquaintance.  Our friend Will, therefore, was ushered into the room, and the two rivals for Clara’s favour were introduced to each other.  Each had heard much of the other, and each had heard of the other from the same person.  But Captain Aylmer knew much more as to Belton than Belton knew in respect to him.  Aylmer knew that Belton had proposed to Clara and had been rejected; and he knew also that Belton was now again going down to Somersetshire.

’You are to spend your Christmas, I believe, with our friends at Belton Castle?’ said the captain.

’Yes and am now on my way there.  I believe you know them also intimately.’  Then there was some explanation as to the Winterfield connexion, a few remarks as to the precarious state of the old squire’s health, a message or two from Captain Aylmer, which of course were of no importance, and the captain took his leave.

Then Green and Briton became very comfortably intimate in their conversation, calling each other Will and Joe for they were old and close friends.  And they discussed matters in that cozy tone of confidential intercourse which is so directly at variance with the tones used by men when they ordinarily talk of business.  ’He has brought me good news for your friend, Miss Amedroz,’ said the lawyer.

‘What good news?’

’That aunt of hers left her fifteen hundred pounds, after all.  Or rather, she did not leave it, but desired on her death-bed that it might be given.’

‘That’s the same thing, I suppose?’

’Oh quite that is to say, it’s the same thing if the person who has to hand over the money does not dispute the legacy.  But it shows how the old lady’s conscience pricked her at last.  And after all it was a shabby sum, and should have been three times as much.’