The Chief Legatee

  CHAPTER XI

  HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING

  Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room. The two women in whose fate hewas so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retiredand there was no other eye he feared. Indeed, he courted an interviewwith the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he hadlittle reason to think it could not. So he went down-stairs.

  In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that ofreality. Here was no mystery. Here was life as he knew it. Walking boldlyinto the office, he ran his eye over the half-dozen men who sat thereand, picking out the lawyer from the rest, sauntered easily up to him andsat down.

  "My name is Johnston," said he. "I'm from New York; like yourself, Ibelieve."

  The lawyer, with a twinkle in his light-blue eye, answered with a cordialnod; and in two minutes a lively conversation had begun between them onpurely impersonal subjects suited to the intelligence of the crowd theywere in. This did not last, however. An opportunity soon came for them tostroll off together, and presently Mr. Ransom found himself closeted withthis man who he had reason to believe was the sole holder of the key tothe secret which was devouring him.

  A bottle of wine was on the table between them, and some cigars. As Mr.Ransom filled the two glasses, he spoke:

  "I have to thank you--" he began, but saw immediately that he had made awrong start.

  "For what, _Mr. Johnston_?" asked the other coldly.

  "For giving me this opportunity to speak alone with you," Ransomexplained with a nervous gesture. "An hour of unrestrained gossip is sonecessary to me after a day of hard work. Perhaps you don't know that Iam an author--have been one for seven whole hours. I find it exhausting.You could give me great relief by talking a little on some foreignsubject, say on the one now engrossing every one in the house, the twinladies from New York. You were in the same coach with them. Did theyquarrel and did the most wilful of the two insist on getting out at thefoot of the hill and walking up through the lane?"

  "I doubt if I have anything to say to Mr. Johnston on this subject," wasthe wary reply.

  "What if he added another name to the Johnston?"

  "It would make no appreciable difference. The driver is a loquaciousfellow, talk to him."

  Mr. Ransom felt his heart fail him. He surveyed closely the mouth whichhad uttered this off-hand sentence and saw that it was set in a linethere was no mistaking. Little enlightenment was to be got from this man.Yet he made one more effort.

  "Did my wife sign the will?" he asked. "All pretense aside, this is avery important matter to me, Mr. Harper; not on account of the moneyinvolved, but because the doing of this simple act seemed to require suchan effort on her part."

  "You are mistaken," was the quick reply, harshly accentuated. "She didjust what she wanted to do. She was not in the least coerced, unless itwas by circumstances."

  "Circumstances! But that is what I mean. They seem to have been too muchfor her. I want to understand these circumstances."

  The lawyer honored him with his first direct look.

  "I don't understand them myself," said he.

  "You don't?"

  "No."

  Mr. Ransom set down the wineglass he had raised half-way to his lips.

  "You have simply followed her orders?"

  "You have said it. Your wife is a woman of much more character than youthink. She has amazed me."

  "She is amazing me. I am here; she is here; only a few boards separateus. But iron bars could not be more effectual. I dare not approach herdoor; dare not ask her to accept from me the natural protection of alover and husband. Instinct holds me back, or her will, which may notbe stronger than mine but is certainly more dominant."

  "Lawyers do not believe much in instinct as a usual thing, but I shouldadvise confidence in this one. A woman with a tremendous will like thatof Mrs. Ransom should be allowed a slack tether. The day will arrive whenshe will come to you herself. This I have said before; I can say nothingmore to you to-night."

  "Then there is nothing in the will you have drawn up to show that she haslost her affection for me?"

  The lawyer drained his glass.

  "I have not been given permission to declare its terms," said he, whenhis glass was again upon the table.

  "In other words, I am to know nothing," exclaimed his exasperatedcompanion.

  "Not from me."

  And this ended the conversation. Ransom withdrew immediately up-stairs.

  At ten o'clock he retired. The last look he cast down the hall had shownhim the drowsy figure of the maid still sitting at her watch. It seemedto insure a peaceful night. But he had little expectation of sleep.Though the wind had quieted down and the rain fell with increasinggentleness, the roar of the waterfall surged through all his thoughts,which in themselves were turbulent. He did sleep, however, sleptpeacefully till half-past one, when he and all in the house were startledby a wild and piercing cry rising from one of the rooms. Terror was inthe sound and in an instant every door was open save the two which wereshut upon Georgian and her twin sister.