The receipt of this letter was extremely mortifying to me. I could not
help feeling that if I lost the fine property which had been intended
for me, I lost it chiefly by the deceit practised relative to my
mother's supposed death, and that if I did lose the estate in
consequence, it was a proper punishment. At the same time, I felt not a
little indignant at the conduct of Colonel Delmar. I now understood why
it was that he was talking with Mr Warden's clerk when I passed by
them; and I also felt certain that he must have taken advantage of my
situation at Portsmouth, and have opened my desk and stolen the letters
from my mother. For this I resolved to call him to account, under any
circumstances (that is, whether he or I became the heir to the old
lady), as soon as I could fall in with him. Although I was far from
despising the property which I was now likely to lose, yet I was more
actuated in my wish to regain it by my enmity towards him, and I
immediately resolved upon what I would do.
As I was still unfit to travel, and, moreover, was resolved not to leave
Hamburg without Minnie as my wife, I sent for Cross, and telling him in
few words, what had taken place, asked him if he would immediately start
for England, which he gladly consented to do. "The old lady requires,
it seems, proof from Lord de Versely's own hand that I am his son;
fortunately, that is in my power to give; so do you take this, and as
soon as you arrive in England make all haste to Mr Warden's and put it
into his own hands." I then took off the seal-skin pouch containing
Lord de Versely's letter to my mother, and confided it to his care. At
the same time I wrote a long letter to Mr Warden explaining as far as I
could the means which the colonel had used to get possession of the
letters, and the reason which induced me to make his lordship believe
that my mother was dead. I did not attempt to extenuate my conduct; on
the contrary, I severely blamed myself for my deception, and
acknowledged that if I lost the estate it was nothing more than I
deserved.
Cross made all haste, and sailed the next morning. Having put this
affair in train, I had nothing to do but to give all my thoughts to
Minnie. In another fortnight I was completely recovered, and then I
mentioned to Mr Vanderwelt my anxiety that the marriage should take
place. No difficulties were raised; and it was settled that on that day
week I should lead my Minnie to the altar. I thought that the week
would never expire; but, like all other weeks, it died a natural death
at last, and we were united. The _fete_ was over, the company had all
left us, and we were again alone, and I held my dearest Minnie in my
arms, when Mr Vanderwelt brought me in a letter from England. It was
from Mr Warden, and I hastily opened it. Minnie shared my impatience,
and read over my shoulder. The contents were as follows:--
"MY DEAR CAPTAIN KEENE,
"Most fortunate it was for you that you have preserved that letter;
but I must not anticipate. On receiving it from Cross I immediately
went with it to the old lady, and presented it to her. I did more,--I
read over your letter in which you stated your reasons for making Lord
de Versely believe that your mother was dead. The old lady, who is
now very far gone in her intellect, could hardly understand me.
However, her nephew's handwriting roused her up a little, and she
said, `Well, well--I see--I must think about it. I won't decide. I
must hear what the colonel says.' Now, this is what I did not wish
her to do; but she was positive, and I was obliged to leave her. The
colonel was sent for; but I do not know what the result was, or rather
might have been, as fortune stood your friend in a most unexpected
way.
"As I went out, I perceived two gentlemen arrive in a post-chaise.
One of them appeared very ill and feeble, hardly able to walk up the
steps. They inquired for Colonel Delmar, and were shown into a
sitting-room, until he came out of Mrs Delmar's apartment. I saw him
come out; and there was so much satisfaction in his countenance, that
I felt sure that he had gained over the old lady. And I went home,
resolving that I would burn the new will, which had not been signed,
if it were only to gain the delay of having to make it over again.
But the next morning an express arrived for me to go immediately to
the Hall. I did so, but I did not take the new will with me, as I
felt certain that if I had so done, it would have been signed that
day. But I was mistaken: I had been sent for on account of the death
of Colonel Delmar, who had that morning fallen in a duel with Major
Stapleton, the officer who fought with you. It appears that Captain
Green had informed the major of the language used by the colonel when
Major S was supposed to be dead; and that the major, who has been very
ill ever since, only waited till he was able to stand to demand
satisfaction of the colonel. It was the major with his friend whom I
met as I left the Hall the day before. They fought at daylight, and
both fell. The major, however, lived long enough to acknowledge that
the duel with you had been an arranged thing between him and the
colonel, that you might be put out of the way, after the information
the colonel had received from my clerk, and that the colonel was to
have rewarded him handsomely if he had sent you into the other world.
I suspect, after this, that the fowling-piece going off in the cover
was not quite so accidental as was supposed. However, the colonel is
out of your way now, and the old lady has received such a shock, that
there is no fear of her altering the will; indeed, if she attempted
it, I doubt if it would be valid, as she is now quite gone in her
intellect. I have, therefore, destroyed the one not signed; and have
no doubt, but that in a very few weeks I may have to congratulate you
upon your succession to this property. I think that the sooner you
can come home the better, and I advise you to take up your quarters at
Madeline Hall, for possession is nine points of the law, and you can
keep off all trespassers.--Yours most truly,
"F. WARDEN."
"Well, Minnie dearest, I may congratulate you, I believe, as the lady of
Madeline Hall," said I, folding up the letter.
"Yes, Percival, but there is a postscript overleaf, which you have not
read."