onscious in Bessie's arms.

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE HEIR

'And you mean to say,' cried Clem, when she was in the cab with her
husband speeding back to Burton Crescent--'you mean to say as you've
left them people to do what they like?'

'I suppose I know my own business,' re plied Joseph, wishing to convey
the very impression which in fact he did--that he had the will in his
pocket.

On reaching home he sat down at once and penned a letter to Messrs.
Percival & Peel, formally apprising them of what had happened. Clem sat
by and watched him. Having sealed the envelope, he remarked:

'I'm going out for a couple of hours.'

'Then I shall go with you.'

'You'll do nothing of the kind. Why, what do you mean, you great gaping
fool?' The agitation of his nerves made him break into unaccustomed
violence. 'Do you suppose you're going to follow me everywhere for the
next week? Are you afraid I shall run away? If I mean to do so, do you
think you can stop me? You'll just wait here till I come back, which
will be before ten o'clock. Do you hear?'

She looked at him fiercely, but his energy was too much for her, and
perforce she let him go. As soon as he had left the house, she too sat
down and indited a letter. It ran thus:

'DEAR MOTHER,--The old feller has gawn of it apened at jest after six
e'clock if you want to now I shall come and sea you at ten 'clock
to-morow moning and I beleve hes got the will but hes a beest and
theers a game up you may take your hothe so I remain C. S.'

This document she took to the nearest pillar-post, then returned and
sat brooding.

By the first hansom available Joseph was driven right across London to
a certain dull street in Chelsea. Before dismissing the vehicle he
knocked at the door of a lodging-house and made inquiry for Mr.
Scawthorne. To his surprise and satisfaction, Mr. Scawthorne happened
to be at home; so the cabman was paid, and Joseph went up to the second
floor.

In his shabby little room Scawthorne sat smoking and reading. It was a
season of impecuniosity with him, and his mood was anything but
cheerful. He did not rise when his visitor entered.

'Well now, what do you think brings me here?' exclaimed Joseph, when he
had carefully closed the door.

'Hanged if I know, but it doesn't seem to be particularly bad news.'

Indeed, Joseph had overcome his sensibilities by this time, and his
aspect was one of joyous excitement. Seeing on the table a bottle of
sherry, lo