Evening star., 1915-03-28
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MARCH %. 1915

DO SERIOUS IllaI am profoundly tnank1ul
the settled weather has kept Peridot at sea.
"Do they meet frequently"
IL hate suspecting people, Dad; SO I can
only say that | don't know. Let us get
away from all this worry for day. Send
Barbe for Lorry, and ask him to dejeuner
Then the three of us will walk out the Belon
road, and have tea at the inn. 1t will do us
a heap of good"
MRS. CARMAC, after a burst of hys-
~ terical sobbing which her nephew tried
to stop by a few conventional words of SYM
pathy, subsidized into even more exasperatng
silence as the carriage rolled back from
Nixon. Fosdyke, being an egotist, did not
exert himself to console her; he was, indeed,
profoundly relieved when the wretched
journey came to an end. He helped his
aunt to alight, but did not attempt to escort
her into the annex. Instead he waited until
the second carriage drove UP, and Bennett
appeared. -. -,
quired offhandedy.
"Not at present, Mr.. Fosdyke," was the
quiet answer.
"Isn't it customary that the will should
be read after the funeral?'
"Ycs, if it is available"
"Surcly my uncle did not die intestatc?"
The question was shot out with fiery eager
ness that showed how joyfully any indica-
ton Of the absence of will would have been
received.
"No," said Bennett, after a pause. "Mr.
Carnac's will, in duplicate, is lodged in my
office and at his bank. l did not bring my
copy, as l had no reason to believe that
events would shape themselves as they have
done. But confidential clerk is on the way
with the document. He telegraphed from
st. NIalo this morning that he had caught
a train that should reach Pont Aven about
half past four this afternoon. At five O'Clock,
if convenient to you, suggest that we meet
in Mrs. Carmac's rooms
Then Fosdyke knew that the gray-haired
lawyer had been playing with him; but he
only said airily, "Such distractions as seem
to flourish in Pont Aven will probably leave
me at liberty about the time you name, MIR.
Bennett"
The lawyer nodded, kept stiff upper lip,
and followed Mrs. Carmac.
THE old fox!' growlcd Fosdyke savagely,
careless who heard him. "lll bet good
money he has feathered his own nest all
right"
The Mayor, the doctor, and the notary,
who had descended close at hand, wondered
what had put this elegant young gentleman
into a temper. Raymond and Popple un-
ucISlOou WSll cIouSil, 'uG stiiNi i'''iliiS.
81 suppose you ought to invite these local
gentlemen to take a glass of wine?" sug
gcsted the secretary.
"I'll see them boiled tirst!' was the amia-
bic answer.
Then Raymond, in his slow French, gave
the invitation on his own behalf; but the
Pont Aven men were not slow wtted, and
courteously excused their further attend
ancc.
"I've a notion that a gargle of some sort
wouldn't come amiss," observed Popple
thoughtfully.
a can't drink now," fumed Fosdyke
"Raymond, word with you!'
Raymond, however, had been furtively
engaged in taking stock of Rupert Fosdykc
during the last few days.
"Sorry,' he said, "but our chat must be
postponed. Mrs. Carmac would be exceed
ingly annoyed if she heard that we were in
hospitable. You ought not to have spoken
the way you did before those French gentle
men 1t was distinctly bad form
If a timid hare coursed by greyhound
were suddenly to turn and admonish its
purs,lcr, the dog would hardly be more sur
prised than Fosdylle when this qucer-loolling
little secretary dared to chidc him. He was
so completely taken aback that he laughed.
Al guess you're right he said. "Order
bottle of champagne I'll ask those fellows
to dinner, and do them well. Then they'll
1 j,,Gi \pl ,,i