As far as grief was concerned there was but little, if any at all, but there was a vast amount of curiosity, and it was this that had drawn the people to the spot.
Strange to say Doctor Bourne, to the surprise of everybody, and to his wife in particular, died intestate; Mrs. Bourne, therefore, took out letters of administration.
As may readily be imagined she was not permitted to have it all her own way—the doctor’s relatives stepped forward to have a wrangle over the effects.
He died worth a great deal more than was supposed, and the widow’s share of the property was quite sufficient to maintain her handsomely; so that after all the American plotters, as they were termed by some, had really done her a very great service.
She was released from a thraldom which had daily become more and more painful, and she was rendered independent for the remainder of her life—proving the old adage, “that no evil occurs but some good comes from it.”
It was necessary for the better distribution of the property that the furniture and personal property of the doctor should be disposed of, and consequently a public sale took place. Everything was brought under the hammer.
The number of curiosity hunters and sightseers who flocked to the house during the three days appointed for the sale was prodigious.
Every class of the community seemed to be represented on this occasion, Jews and brokers being, as usual, the most prominent.
Some of the articles fetched fancy prices, while others went at sums considerably below their value.
The aristocratic and more wealthy class of bidders went in for the pictures and articles of virtu.