Part 46 (1/2)

Wallace drew up a simple form of a will and read it through aloud.

”I have left the name blank,” he said. ”If this expresses what you wish, you can fill in the name and sign it, either before Harding and myself or two other people.”

Dudgeon took it and read it through again.

”That'll do,” he said. He put it on the table in front of Harding. ”Fill in Mrs. Eustace's name--I don't know it,” he added.

Harding wrote the name in the blank s.p.a.ce, the name of one who, in another minute, would rank amongst the greatest heiresses of the world.

”That is the full name,” he said as he handed back the doc.u.ment to Dudgeon.

He looked at it.

”Jessie, is it?” he said. ”Jessie Eustace, nee Spence. There is no chance of a mistake being made, is there? Hadn't you better add whose wife she was?”

”If you wish it.”

”And say where she is living now, and where she came from before she came here. I don't want this to go wrong. I want to make sure she will get everything.”

When the additions were made he read the whole doc.u.ment through once more.

”Yes, that seems to fix it,” he said. ”Give me a pen.”

The signature affixed, and witnessed, he looked from one to the other.

”I'll take your word to keep the matter secret till I'm gone,” he said.

”I don't feel like dying just yet, but one never knows, and, in the meantime, I don't want this known. She don't know, and if she does, it will only be through one of you two talking.”

”You may rest a.s.sured, Mr. Dudgeon, that both Mr. Harding and myself will respect your confidence and hold the matter absolutely secret,”

Wallace replied.

”That's good enough,” he said.

Turning to Harding, he added, ”I'll leave this in your charge. If I go, see that she gets it. Good day.”

He was at the door when Wallace spoke.

”Will you not stay and have some refreshment, after your long drive in?”

he said.

Dudgeon looked over his shoulder, with his hand on the door-handle.

”That's all I want from you,” he replied.

”There is one other matter,” Harding exclaimed. ”If this will ever has to be used, we have no information what property you are leaving.”

Dudgeon let go the handle and faced round.

”Young man,” he said, ”you've got a head on you. Just sit down and I'll tell you, and you can write them down.”