CHAPTER VII
HANS CASPAR'S WILL
Sir Audrey Rivers' diagnosis proved correct. Just a year after his visit to Beachbourne Mr. Caspar died.
His will caused malicious merriment to those who knew "Unser Hans," as he was called in Society.
He left the bulk of his vast fortune in trust for the Whitechapel Hospital—with one proviso: that no clergyman was to act as a trustee. For the rest he bequeathed £300 a year for life, free of Income Tax, to his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Edward Caspar; and should she pre-decease her husband, the sum was to be continued to his son.
"Sound fellow that," said Mr. Trupp, when he heard. "Old Man Caspar to the end."
"It's rather hard on our Mr. Caspar," remarked his wife, who had known Edward Caspar in London before either had married.
"My dear," replied the surgeon, with the slight sententiousness peculiar to him, "the only way to help that sort of son is to be hard on him."
"I hope you'll never help my Joe like that," cried the beautiful woman warmly.
Mr. Trupp loved to tease his wife.
"If your Joe goes that way I will," he grinned—"and worse. So mind your eye!"