The White Virgin Part 18

"Shame!" he cried. "I protest!" and a dead silence fell.

"May I ask why, sir?" said the lawyer coldly. "My deceased friend has done more than his duty by you."

"Your words are uncalled-for and insolent, sir," cried Jessop.

"Recollect that you are only a paid professional man."

"And Grantham Reed's trusted confidential friend, sir. Dr Praed and I were the two men to whom he opened his heart--eh, Doctor?"

"Yes, in all things."

"I was not speaking about my own beggarly, tied-up legacy," cried Jessop, who was now deadly pale, "but of the cruel, disgraceful way in which my father has behaved to a young lady whom he professed to love as a daughter, and led to expect that she would stand high in his will."

Janet's hands were extended deprecatingly toward the speaker, and Clive half rose in his chair, but sank back as the lawyer said coldly--

"Perhaps Mr Jessop Reed will listen to the codicil before he adds to a long list of injuries by casting aspersions upon the generosity of my dear dead friend."

"What! is there a codicil?" cried Jessop.

The lawyer bowed his head.

"Then why have you kept it back, sir?"

"Because it comes last," said the lawyer, with a faint smile, "and also because I have had no opportunity to read it on account of interruptions."

A dead silence fell once more, and Clive darted a glance across to Janet, whose eyes, as far as he could see, appeared to be directed at his brother.

"The codicil," began the lawyer, "is dated six months before our lamented friend's death."

He paused, and then read on, after the customary preliminaries--

"I give and bequeath to Janet Praed, daughter of my old friend, Peter Praed, the sum of one hundred thousand pounds, standing in Bank of England and Government of India stock, free of legacy duty."

"Hah!" cried Jessop, in a triumphant tone; and unable to contain himself, he rose and crossed to Janet to take her hands, which she resigned to him, while Clive felt as if he had received a thrust from a knife, as the old lawyer raised his head and gazed curiously at the group before him.

Then, as a low murmur once more arose, the lawyer coughed loudly, and went on; every ear being again attent to his words, as he raised his voice and sent a galvanic shock through the semicircle of his listeners.

"Conditionally--"

He paused, and Jessop dropped Janet's hands, while his lips parted, displaying his white teeth.

"Conditionally," repeated the lawyer, "upon her becoming the wife of my son, Clive Reed. In the event of her refusing to fulfil these my wishes, the above legacy of one hundred thousand pounds to become null and void."

Jessop muttered an oath beneath his breath as he literally staggered at this announcement.

Then, recovering himself--

"Stop!" he cried hoa.r.s.ely; "there is another codicil."

"No, sir," said the old lawyer gravely; and he began slowly to double up the will.

"Wait a minute, sir," cried Jessop, whose hand, as he stretched it out in the midst of a painful silence, was trembling visibly.

"Jessop--dear Jessop," said Janet faintly, as she tore off her veil, "be calm;" and she took a step or two towards the infuriated man, while Clive felt sick, as if from some terrible blow, and sat gazing at the shrinking girl as, with her face drawn with misery and white as ashes, she touched his brother on the arm.

"Silence, woman!" he cried. "Here you!" and he turned to the lawyer, "give me that will."

"I beg your pardon," said the lawyer gravely. "I have read the doc.u.ment."

"Give it to me, I say. I want to see for myself."

"It is not customary, sir," replied the lawyer. "You have heard its contents, and I am custodian, the representative of every one whose name is mentioned there."

"Give it to me, I say," cried Jessop, stepping forward. "I will read it aloud again--myself."

There was a dull sound, a snap, and the rattle of a key being withdrawn.

"No, sir," said the lawyer, placing the key in his pocket. "In your excited state, and as the elder son, I would not trust that doc.u.ment in your hand a moment."

"And quite right," said Dr Praed firmly.

Quick as lightning Jessop made a dash at the lawyer; but a strong hand was upon his arm, and he was swung aside by Clive.

"Are you mad--and at a time like this!"

"Call it what you like," cried Jessop, "but don't you think I am going to be cheated and juggled out of my--of her rights. You have your share and are out of court. I'll have that will and read it over again."

"You will do nothing of the kind," said Clive, "and you will not make a scene in this--in my house."

"Indeed! Oh, yes, I know it is your house, but you've got too strong a man to deal with."

"Mr Jessop," said the old lawyer gravely, "you have the remedy in your hands. There is no underhand work possible with a will like that. If you are dissatisfied, go and consult your own legal adviser. The will of course has to be proved, and in a very short time you will find it accurately copied at Somerset House. Under all the circ.u.mstances, as my deceased friend's trusted adviser, I cannot let it pa.s.s from my hands into yours. I think, gentlemen, the executors, you agree with my action."

"Quite!" came in unison, in company with a murmur of approval from the old friends present.

"Then my duties are at an end," said the solicitor, while Jessop stood panting, speechless, and biting his lips. "Clive Reed, my dear sir, I have made many wills in my time--"

"And you influenced the old man in this," said Jessop.

The lawyer shook his head and looked at the disappointed man tolerantly.

"No, my dear sir. Your worthy, father was too strong-minded a man to be influenced. You have listened to his own clear, concise words and well-thought-out intentions. As I was going to say, my dear Clive Reed, I never made a will with whose principles I could more thoroughly coincide. G.o.d bless you, my dear boy! I congratulate you, and I know how well you will carry out poor old Grantham's wishes. Ah! Doctor,"

he continued sadly, "one dear old companion gone. Many's the good bottle of port we three cracked together in this room, and many's the sterling hour of enjoyment, rational and social, we had together."

"Ay," said the Doctor, with tears in his eyes, "and our turn must come before long."

"Yes! He half apologised to me for not putting you down for a big lump sum; but he said you did not want it, and he was favouring you in your children."

"G.o.d bless me! I didn't want his money," said the Doctor warmly.

"What's the use of money to me? But a hundred thousand pounds to Janet.