llowed to shape our own characters and destinies.
But his last sayings I believe to be true. God is and is merciful, and
death is not terrible either in its act or in its consequence.

Presently Fonseca spoke again. 'Why do you lead me to talk of such
things? They weary me and I have little time. I was telling of my will.
Nephew, listen. Except certain sums that I have given to be spent in
charities--not in masses, mind you--I have left you all I possess.'

'You have left it to ME!' I said astonished.

'Yes, nephew, to you. Why not? I have no relations living and I have
learned to love you, I who thought that I could never care again for any
man or woman or child. I am grateful to you, who have proved to me that
my heart is not dead, take what I give you as a mark of my gratitude.'

Now I began to stammer my thanks, but he stopped me. 'The sum that you
will inherit, nephew, amounts in all to about five thousand gold pesos,
or perhaps twelve thousand of your English pounds, enough for a young
man to begin life on, even with a wife. Indeed there in England it may
well be held a great fortune, and I think that your betrothed's father
will make no more objection to you as a son-in-law. Also there is this
house and all that it contains; the library and the silver are valuable,
and you will do well to keep them. All is left to you with the fullest
formality, so that no question can arise as to your right to take it;
indeed, foreseeing my end, I have of late called in my moneys, and for
the most part the gold lies in strong boxes in the secret cupboard in
the wall yonder that you know of. It would have been more had I known
you some years ago, for then, thinking that I grew too rich who was
without an heir, I gave away as much as what remains in acts of mercy
and in providing refuge for the homeless and the suffering. Thomas
Wingfield, for the most part this money has come to me as the fruit
of human folly and human wretchedness, frailty and sin. Use it for
the purposes of wisdom and the advancing of right and liberty. May it
prosper you, and remind you of me, your old master, the Spanish quack,
till at last you pass it on to your children or the poor. And now one
word more. If your conscience will let you, abandon the pursuit of de
Garcia. Take your fortune and go with it to England; wed that maid whom
you desire, and follow after happiness in whatever way seems best to
you. Who are you that you should meet out vengeance on