|MRS. Calverley, as already intimated, had sent a telegraphic message
from London to Mr. Carteret, desiring him to come to her next morning at
Ousel-croft; and she gave him a hint of the business on which she wished
to consult him, by mentioning that she expected Lord Courland.
Accordingly, about ten o'clock next morning, in compliance with the
summons he had received, Mr. Carteret made his appearance, and was
conducted by Norris to the cabinet just described, where he found the
beautiful widow seated at a desk, with writing materials before her.
“I am so much obliged to you for coming to me, Mr. Carteret,” she said,
giving him a very warm welcome. “I want to see you most particularly.
Pray sit down!”
“If I am not mistaken, madam, you are about to form an important
matrimonial alliance?” he remarked.
“You have guessed rightly, Mr. Carteret,” she said, with a smile.
“I went up to town a few days ago perfectly free, and have returned
engaged.”
“To Lord Courland?”
“To his lordship.”
“Accept my congratulations,” he said, rather gravely. “But I am obliged
to treat the affair as a matter of business, and must dismiss all
sentiment. Does his lordship propose to make a handsome settlement upon
you?”
“No doubt he would, if it were in his power; but he is unable to do so.”
“I feared not,”' replied Carteret. “But I hope he doesn't expect a
settlement to be made on him?”
“I rather think he does,” replied the lady.
“But surely you have not made any promise to this effect?” observed
Carteret.
“Indeed, I have, sir,” she rejoined. “You look surprised. But I really
could not do otherwise. I have promised to settle half my property upon
him.”
“But how will you fulfil your promise?”
“I see no difficulty in the way,” she rejoined. “I have only to give you
the necessary instructions.”
“If that were all, it would be easy enough. But I can scarcely conceive
it possible you can be in ignorance of----”
“In ignorance of what?” she hastily interrupted.
“Of the clause in your late husband's will, which directs that in the
event of your marrying again, the whole of the property shall go to
Mildred. Thus you will have nothing more than the settlement made upon
you before your marriage.”
“Is this so?” asked Mrs. Calverley, with some astonishment. “I was not
aware of it.”
“It is exactly as I state,” he replied. “I am amazed to find you have not
read the will.”
“I _have_ read it,” she cried. “But I did not notice the clause you
mention.”
“I will show it you in a moment if you will give me the will,” he said.
“I fear the will has been stolen,” she rejoined.
“Stolen?” he ejaculated.
“Yes; I wished to refer to it last evening, but could not find it.”
“Had you put it in a safe place?”
“I put it in one of the drawers of this escritoire. The drawers were all
locked, but the will was gone!”
“Have you examined the drawers to-day?” asked Carteret.
“I have not, because I consider further search completely useless.”
“I should like to satisfy myself before making inquiries,” said
Carteret.
Mrs. Calverley unlocked the top drawer, and opened it, and had no sooner
done so, than Mr. Carteret sprang forward, exclaiming:
“Why, there it is!”
Had it come there by magic?
Mrs. Calverley could scarcely believe her eyes.
“Are you certain you examined this drawer?” said Carteret.
“Quite. Laura searched it after me.”
“But how came the will back?”
“That I cannot explain,” replied Mrs. Calverley. “But it is clear one
of the servants has a key that fits this lock. I scarcely like to say
so--but I suspect Norris.”
“I can't believe the old man capable of such an act,” said Carteret.
“However, we'll speak of that presently. First, let me convince you that
my statement in regard to the will is correct. Here is the clause. It
is at the very end of the instrument:--'And I hereby declare that if
my dear wife, Teresa, shall marry again, without the consent in writing
first had and obtained of my dear daughter Mildred, then, and in such
case, the whole of my property hereby devised to my said wife, shall go
and revert to my said daughter Mildred, anything heretofore expressed to
the contrary notwithstanding.' Thus you see, madam,” he pursued, “if you
marry again, all your property, which may be roughly estimated at five
thousand pounds per annum, will go from you, and you will have nothing
but your settlement. I cannot imagine how this important clause escaped
you.”
“Neither can I,” said Mrs. Calverley.
“But it will now be necessary to decide whether you will sacrifice your
present large income, or break off the important match you have just
formed. I don't think you can have much hesitation. In my opinion, when
Lord Courland learns how you are circumstanced, he will be anxious to
retire.”
“I do not think so,” exclaimed Mrs. Calverley.
“Well, you will have an excellent opportunity of testing the sincerity
of his affection.”
“I am taken quite by surprise, as you see, Mr. Carteret,” said
Mrs. Calverley, who was greatly agitated, “and must have time for
consideration before I can decide. I anticipate no difficulty.”
“It is certainly an awkward dilemma,” said Carteret; “but I don't see
how you can get out of it, unless you are content to remain single. I
quite thought you understood your position, or I should have ventured to
give you some advice before.”
“I wish you had,” said Mrs. Calverley. “I little imagined Mildred held
my destiny in her hands. She cannot be aware of her power?”
“I have no means of judging,” replied Carteret. “But I fancy not.”
“Then let her be kept in ignorance for a short time, till we are able to
think the matter over. I cannot, will not give up Lord Courland--I love
him!”
“That alters the case, madam.”
“But though I cannot give him up, I know not whether he is disinterested
enough to take me with my small fortune.”
“Fifteen hundred a year is not a small fortune,” said Carteret, “and you
have that, at any rate. If Lord Courland loves you as strongly as I am
persuaded he does, I am sure he will be content with it.”
“But he has been led to expect more,” said Mrs. Calverley.
“Yes; that is unfortunate. His expectations having been raised so
highly, a disappointment may ensue. But I do not anticipate a rupture
is to be apprehended. Let me state that I did my best to prevent
the introduction of this objectionable clause into the will. But my
remonstrances were ineffectual, Mr. Calverley was determined. 'If she
marries again, the property shall return to my family,' he said. So I was
obliged to carry out his instructions. I know not what are your plans,
madam, but my advice to you is to delay the marriage as long as you can,
so that some arrangement may be made with Miss Calverley.”
“I will follow your advice, Mr. Carteret. But, when Mildred discovers
her power, I think she will prove impracticable.”
“It may be so,” he rejoined. “But you are still mistress of the
situation. She may prevent your marriage, but she can do nothing more.
Evidently, she is in the dark at present. Keep this matter secret till
you have concocted your plans; you will then be able to make a better
arrangement.”
“But you forget that I have an enemy in the house. Whoever abstracted
the will--and I still suspect Norris---is in possession of the important
secret, and will communicate it. That is certain.”
Struck by what she said, Mr. Carteret reflected for a few minutes.
“Under the circumstances, it may be well to keep on good terms with old
Norris,” he said. “Chetwynd and Mildred, I find, are both absent, so
that you need not apprehend immediate interference from either of them.
Summon me, if you require my counsel, and I will come at once. I can
render you no service just now. But mind! make no proposition to Mildred
without consulting me.”
And he left the cabinet.
As he went out, he found Norris in the hall, and took the opportunity of
speaking to him.
“Well, Norris,” he said, “you're going to have a great change in the
house before long. How does it suit you?”
“Not at all, sir,” replied the old butler, who looked very gloomy. “I'd
rather things remained as they are. But do you really think, sir, this
marriage will take place?”
“What's to hinder it?” remarked Carteret, looking at him inquiringly.
“Nothing that I know of,” replied Norris; “but perhaps Mrs. Calverley
may change her mind. She has got everything she wants now.”
“Except a husband!” replied Carteret, laughing.
“And he may cost too dear,” said Norris.
“Too dear! What do you mean?”
“A young nobleman is not to be had for nothing,” replied Norris.
“Well, Mrs. Calverley can afford to pay a high price for such a luxury,
if she chooses,” said Carteret. “However, that's not the way to look at
the matter, Norris. This is a very great match, and must be conducted in
a befitting manner. A large settlement must necessarily be made.”
“I don't dispute that, sir,” said Norris. “But _can_ a large settlement
be made?”
“The rascal has read the will!” thought Carteret. “Of course it can!” he
added, aloud. “Mrs. Calverley can do what she likes with her own.”
“Well, you ought to know better than me, sir,” said Norris; “but I fancy
you're mistaken. I always understood my old master didn't wish his wife
to marry again, and I concluded he would take precautions to prevent her
doing so.”
“I wouldn't advise you to make such observations as those to any one but
me, Norris,” said Carteret.
“Not even to Mr. Chetwynd, or Miss Mildred, sir?”
“I see what you are driving at, Norris; but you had better hold your
tongue, and keep quiet; you'll do yourself no good by meddling in what
does not concern you. Things are by no means settled. Most certainly,
the marriage won't take place at present. Very likely it may not take
place at all. But if it does, the testamentary directions will be
strictly carried out.”
“That's all I wished to know, sir,” replied the butler. “I won't say a
word more to any one.”
And he attended Mr. Carteret to the door, where the solicitor's
mail-phaeton was waiting for him.