k Leonard.

'Why, sir,' he said, 'I put it in your name as they had written to you. I
thought it only courteous.' The elder man winced; he had not expected
the excuse. We went on speaking in the same calm way, but his tone was
more acrid than before:

'Good! of course! It was only courteous of you! Quite so! But I think
it will be well in the future to let me look after my own courtesy; as
regards my signature at any rate. You see, my dear boy, a signature is
queer sort of thing, and judges and juries are apt to take a poor view of
courtesy as over against the conventions regarding a man, writing his own
name. What I want to tell you is this, that on seeing that signature I
made a new will. You see, my estate is not entailed, and therefore I
think it only right to see that in such a final matter justice is done
all round. I therefore made a certain provision of which I am sure you
will approve. Indeed, since I am assured of the payment of your debts, I
feel justified in my action. I may say, inter alia, that I congratulate
you on either the extent of your resources or the excellence of your
friendships, or both. I confess that the amounts brought to my notice
were rather large; more especially in proportion to the value of the
estate which you are some day to inherit. For you are of course to
inherit some day, my dear boy. You are my only son, and it would be
hardly--hardly courteous of me not to leave it to you. But I have put a
clause in my will to the effect that the trustee's are to pay all debts
of your accruing which can be proved against you, before handing over to
you either the estate itself or the remainder after its sale and the
settlement of all claims. That's all. Now run away, my boy; I have some
important work to do.'

* * * * *

The day after her return from Heply Regis, Stephen was walking in the
wood when she thought she heard a slight rustling of leaves some way
behind her. She looked round, expecting to see some one; but the leafy
path was quite clear. Her suspicion was confirmed; some one was secretly
following her. A short process of exclusions pointed to the personality
of the some one. Tramps and poachers were unknown in Normanstand, and
there was no one else whom she could think of who had any motive in
following her in such a way; it must be Leonard Everard. She turned and
walked rapidly in the opposite direction. As this would bring her to the
house Leonard had to d