, "and can you tell me the amount of
the property?"

"Not exactly," he answered, "but she has led a very saving life, and
money grows, you know, money grows. I should say it must be between
three and four hundred thousand, nearer the latter than the former,
perhaps."

"Really," I replied, "that is more than I expected; it is a little
astonishing to be lifted in a moment from the position of one with a
mere competence into that of a rich man. But our poor friend was--well,
weak-minded, so how could she be competent to make a binding will?"

"My dear sir, her will was made within a month of her husband's death,
when she was as sane as you are, as I have plenty of letters to show.
Only, as I have said, she kept the contents a dead secret, in order that
one day they might be a pleasant surprise to you."

"Well," I answered, "all things considered, they have been a pleasant
surprise; I may say a _very_ pleasant surprise. And now let us go and
have some dinner at the club. I feel tired and thirsty."

Next morning the letter that I had posted from London to the chairman of
my committee was, at my request, returned to me unopened.

CHAPTER X

JANE MEETS DR. MERCHISON

Nobody disputed my inheritance, for, so far as I could learn, Mrs.
Strong had no relatives. Nor indeed could it have been disputed, for I
had never so much as hypnotised the deceased. When it was known how
rich I had become I grew even more popular in Dunchester than I had been
before, also my importance increased at headquarters to such an extent
that on a change of Government I became, as I have said, Under-Secretary
to the Home Office. Although I was a useful man hitherto I had always
been refused any sort of office, because of the extreme views which I
professed--on platforms in the constituencies--or so those in
authority alleged. Now, however, these views were put down to
amiable eccentricity; moreover, I was careful not to obtrude them.
Responsibility sobers, and as we age and succeed we become more
moderate, for most of us have a method in our madness.

In brief, I determined to give up political knight-errantry and to stick
to sober business. Very carefully and in the most conservative spirit I
took stock of the situation. I was still a couple of years on the right
side of fifty, young looking for my age (an advantage), a desirable
_parti_ (a great advantage, although I had no intention of re-marrying),
and in full health and vigour. Fu