Man and Wife

Without a word more of preface, Sir Patrick told him the news of Geoffrey's marriage to Anne.

'Married!' cried Mr. Marchwood. 'Are you sure of what you say?'

'I am one of the witnesses of the marriage.'

'Good Heavens! And Lord Holchester's lawyer has left the house!'

'Can I replace him? Have I, by any chance justified you in telling me what happened this morning in the next room?'

'Justified me? You have left me no other alternative. The doctors are all agreed in dreading apoplexy—his lordship may die at any moment. In the lawyer's absence, I must take it on myself. Here are the facts. There is the codicil to Lord Holchester's Will which is still unsigned.'

'Relating to his second son?'

'Relating to Geoffrey Delamayn, and giving him (when it is once executed) a liberal provision for life.'

'What is the object in the way of his executing it?'

'The lady whom you have just mentioned to me.'

'Anne Silvester!'

'Anne Silvester—now (as you tell me) Mrs. Geoffrey Delamayn. I can only explain the thing very imperfectly. There are certain painful circumstances associated in his lordship's memory with this lady, or with some member of her family. We can only gather that he did something—in the early part of his professional career—which was strictly within the limits of his duty, but which apparently led to very sad results. Some days since he unfortunately heard (either through Mrs. Glenarm or through Mrs. Julius Delamayn) of Miss Silvester's appearance at Swanhaven Lodge. No remark on the subject escaped him at the time. It was only this morning, when the codicil giving the legacy to Geoffrey was waiting to be executed, that his real feeling in the matter came out. To our astonishment, he refused to sign it. 'Find Anne Silvester' (was the only answer we could get from him); 'and bring her to my bedside. You all say my son is guiltless of injuring her. I am lying on my death-bed. I have serious reasons of my own—I owe it to the memory of the dead—to assure myself of the truth. If Anne Silvester herself acquits him of having wronged her, I will provide for Geoffrey. Not otherwise.' We went the length of reminding him that he might die before Miss Silvester could be found. Our interference had but one result. He desired the lawyer to add a second codicil to the Will—which he executed on the spot. It directs his executors to inquire into the relations that have actually existed between Anne Silvester and his younger son. If we find reason to conclude that Geoffrey has gravely wronged her, we are directed to pay her a legacy—provided that she is a single woman at the time.'

'And her marriage violates the provision!' exclaimed Sir Patrick.

'Yes. The codicil actually executed is now worthless. And the other codicil remains unsigned until the lawyer can produce Miss Silvester. He has left the house to apply to Geoffrey at Fulham, as the only means at our disposal of finding the lady. Some hours have passed—and he has not yet returned.'

'It is useless to wait for him,' said Sir Patrick. 'While the lawyer was on his way to Fulham, Lord Holchester's son was on his way to Portland Place. This is even more serious than you suppose. Tell me, what under less pressing circumstances I should have no right to ask. Apart from the unexecuted codicil what is Geoffrey Delamayn's position in the will?'

'He is not even mentioned in it.'

'Have you got the will?'

Mr. Marchwood unlocked a drawer, and took it out.

Sir Patrick instantly rose from his chair. 'No waiting for the lawyer!' he repeated, vehemently. 'This is a matter of life and death. Lady Holchester bitterly resents her son's marriage. She speaks and feels as a friend of Mrs. Glenarm. Do you think Lord Holchester would take the same view if he knew of it?'

'It depends entirely on the circumstances.'

'Suppose I informed him—as I inform you in confidence—that his son has gravely wronged Miss Silvester? And suppose I followed that up by telling him that his son has made atonement by marrying her?'

'After the feeling that he has shown in the matter, I believe he would sign the codicil.'

'Then, for God's sake, let me see him!'

'I must speak to the doctor.'

'Do it instantly!'

With the will in his hand, Mr. Marchwood advanced to the bedroom door. It was opened from within before he could get to it. The doctor appeared on the threshold. He held up his hand warningly when Mr. Marchwood attempted to speak to him.

'Go to Lady Holchester,' he said. 'It's all over.'

'Dead?'

'Dead.'

SIXTEENTH SCENE.—SALT PATCH.

CHAPTER THE FORTY-EIGHTH.

THE PLACE.

EARLY in the present century it was generally reported among the neighbors of one Reuben Limbrick that he