Prev | Current Page 175 | Next

Hope, Anthony, 1863-1933

"The Secret of the Tower"

But, Doctor Mary, what would have been possible was for me to go
somewhere else, or even back to the places we knew of, for no questions
were asked there--put that money back into notes, or securities in my own
name, and tell him I had carried out the Morocco programme. He had no
sense of time, he would have suspected nothing."
"That would have been mere and sheer robbery," said Mary.
"Oh yes, it would," Beaumaroy agreed. "And, if I'd done it, and deserted
him, I should have deserved to be hanged. That was hardly my question. As
long as he lived, I meant to stick by him; but he was turned seventy,
frail, with heart-disease, and, as I understand, quite likely to sink
into general paralysis. Well, if I was to exercise my right of conquest
and get the fruits of conquest, two ways seemed open. There could be a
will; you'll remember my consulting you on that point and your reply?"
"Did he make a will?" asked Mary quickly.
"No. A will was open to serious objections. Even supposing your
evidence--which, of course, I wanted in case of need--had been
satisfactory, a fight with the Radbolts would have been unpleasant.


Pages:
163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187