out. To our astonishment, he refused to sign it. 'Find Anne Silvester'
(was the only answer we could get from him); 'and bring her to my
bedside. You all say my son is guiltless of injuring her. I am lying on
my death-bed. I have serious reasons of my own--I owe it to the memory
of the dead--to assure myself of the truth. If Anne Silvester herself
acquits him of having wronged her, I will provide for Geoffrey. Not
otherwise.' We went the length of reminding him that he might die before
Miss Silvester could be found. Our interference had but one result.
He desired the lawyer to add a second codicil to the Will--which he
executed on the spot. It directs his executors to inquire into the
relations that have actually existed between Anne Silvester and his
younger son. If we find reason to conclude that Geoffrey has gravely
wronged her, we are directed to pay her a legacy--provided that she is a
single woman at the time."

"And her marriage violates the provision!" exclaimed Sir Patrick.

"Yes. The codicil actually executed is now worthless. And the other
codicil remains unsigned until the lawyer can produce Miss Silvester. He
has left the house to apply to Geoffrey at Fulham, as the only means at
our disposal of finding the lady. Some hours have passed--and he has not
yet returned."

"It is useless to wait for him," said Sir Patrick. "While the lawyer was
on his way to Fulham, Lord Holchester's son was on his way to Portland
Place. This is even more serious than you suppose. Tell me, what under
less pressing circumstances I should have no right to ask. Apart from
the unexecuted codicil what is Geoffrey Delamayn's position in the
will?"

"He is not even mentioned in it."

"Have you got the will?"

Mr. Marchwood unlocked a drawer, and took it out.

Sir Patrick instantly rose from his chair. "No waiting for the lawyer!"
he repeated, vehemently. "This is a matter of life and death. Lady
Holchester bitterly resents her son's marriage. She speaks and feels as
a friend of Mrs. Glenarm. Do you think Lord Holchester would take the
same view if he knew of it?"

"It depends entirely on the circumstances."

"Suppose I informed him--as I inform you in confidence--that his son
_has_ gravely wronged Miss Silvester? And suppose I followed that up by
telling him that his son has made atonement by marrying her?"

"After the feeling that he has shown in the matter, I believe he would
sign the codicil."

"Then, for God's sake,