The Lady of the Shroud

  ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON'S RECORD.

  _January_ 4, 1907.

  The reading of Uncle Roger's Will is over. Father got a duplicate of Mr.Trent's letter to me, and of the cable and two telegrams pasted into thisRecord. We both waited patiently till the third--that is, we did not sayanything. The only impatient member of our family was my mother. She_did_ say things, and if old Trent had been here his ears would have beenred. She said what ridiculous nonsense it was delaying the reading ofthe Will, and keeping the Heir waiting for the arrival of an obscureperson who wasn't even a member of the family, inasmuch as he didn't bearthe name. I don't think it's quite respectful to one who is some day tobe Head of the House! I thought father was weakening in his patiencewhen he said: "True, my dear--true!" and got up and left the room. Sometime afterwards when I passed the library I heard him walking up anddown.

  Father and I went up to town on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 2.We stayed, of course, at Claridge's, where we always stay when we go totown. Mother wanted to come, too, but father thought it better not. Shewould not agree to stay at home till we both promised to send herseparate telegrams after the reading.

  At five minutes to eleven we entered Mr. Trent's office. Father wouldnot go a moment earlier, as he said it was bad form to seem eager at anytime, but most of all at the reading of a will. It was a rotten grind,for we had to be walking all over the neighbourhood for half an hourbefore it was time, not to be too early.

  When we went into the room we found there General Sir Colin MacKelpie anda big man, very bronzed, whom I took to be Rupert St. Leger--not a verycreditable connection to look at, I thought! He and old MacKelpie tookcare to be in time! Rather low, I thought it. Mr. St. Leger was readinga letter. He had evidently come in but lately, for though he seemed tobe eager about it, he was only at the first page, and I could see thatthere were many sheets. He did not look up when we came in, or till hehad finished the letter; and you may be sure that neither I nor my father(who, as Head of the House, should have had more respect from him) tookthe trouble to go to him. After all, he is a pauper and a wastrel, andhe has not the honour of bearing our Name. The General, however, cameforward and greeted us both cordially. He evidently had forgotten--orpretended to have--the discourteous way he once treated me, for he spoketo me quite in a friendly way--I thought more warmly than he did tofather. I was pleased to be spoken to so nicely, for, after all,whatever his manners may be, he is a distinguished man--has won the V.C.and a Baronetcy. He got the latter not long ago, after the Frontier Warin India. I was not, however, led away into cordiality myself. I hadnot forgotten his rudeness, and I thought that he might be sucking up tome. I knew that when I had my dear Uncle Roger's many millions I shouldbe a rather important person; and, of course, he knew it too. So I goteven with him for his former impudence. When he held out his hand I putone finger in it, and said, "How do?" He got very red and turned away.Father and he had ended by glaring at each other, so neither of us wassorry to be done with him. All the time Mr. St. Leger did not seem tosee or hear anything, but went on reading his letter. I thought the oldMacSkelpie was going to bring him into the matter between us, for as heturned away I heard him say something under his breath. It sounded like"Help!" but Mr. S--- did not hear. He certainly no notice of it.

  As the MacS--- and Mr. S--- sat quite silent, neither looking at us, andas father was sitting on the other side of the room with his chin in hishand, and as I wanted to show that I was indifferent to the two S's, Itook out this notebook, and went on with the Record, bringing it up tothis moment.