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"It is true, as the will gives you to understand," said the lawyer, smiling in his dry way, "and if I may be permitted to say so, Lady Garvington, never was money more rightfully inherited. You surrendered everything for the sake of true love, and it is only just that you should be rewarded. If Mrs. Stanley had lived she intended to keep five or six thousand for herself so that she could transport certain gypsies to America, but she would undoubtedly have made a deed of gift of the rest of the property. Oh, what a very fortunate thing it was that she made this will," cried Jarwin, genuinely moved at the thought of the possible loss of the millions, "for her unforeseen death would have spoiled everything if I had not the forethought to suggest the testament."
"It is to you we owe our good fortune."
"To Mrs. Gentilla Stanley--and to me partially. I only ask for my reward that you will continue to allow me to see after the property. The fees,"
added Jarwin with his dry cough, "will be considerable."
"You can rob us if you like," said Noel, slapping him on the back.
"Well, to say that I am glad is to speak weakly. I am overjoyed. With this money we can restore the fortunes of the family again."
"They will be placed higher than they have ever been before," cried Agnes with a s.h.i.+ning face. "Two millions. Oh, what a lot of good we can do."
"To yourselves?" inquired Jarwin dryly.
"And to others also," said Lambert gravely. "G.o.d has been so good to us that we must be good to others."
"Then be good to me, Lord Garvington," said the solicitor, putting away the will in his bag, "for I am dying of hunger. A little luncheon--"
"A very big one."
"I am no great eater," said Jarwin, and walked toward the door, "a wash and brush-up and a plate of soup will satisfy me. And I will say again what I said before to both of you, that you thoroughly deserve your good fortune. Lord Garvington, you are the luckier of the two, as you have a wife who is far above rubies, and--and--dear me, I am talking romance.
So foolish at my age. To think--well--well, I am extremely hungry, so don't let luncheon be long before it appears," and with a croaking laugh at his jokes the lawyer disappeared.
Left alone the fortunate couple fell into one another's arms. It seemed incredible that the past storm should have been succeeded by so wonderful a calm. They had been tested by adversity, and they had proved themselves to be of sterling metal. Before them the future stretched in a long, smooth road under sunny blue skies, and behind them the black clouds, out of which they had emerged, were dispersing into thin air.
Evil pa.s.ses, good endures.
"Two millions!" sighed Agnes joyfully.
"Of red money," remarked her husband.
"Why do you call it that?"
"Mother c.o.c.klesh.e.l.l--bless her!--called it so because it was tainted with blood. But we must cleanse the stains, Agnes, by using much of it to help all that are in trouble. G.o.d has been good in settling our affairs in this way, but He has given me a better gift than the money."
"What is that?" asked Lady Garvington softly.
"The love of my dear wife," said the happiest of men to the happiest of women.
THE END.
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