"I wrote to London last night," continued Coralie, "for Mr. Dempster, who was Sir Barnard's lawyer on one or two occasions. You, of course, Mr. Edgar Trevelyan, will retain the services of the family solicitors."
"I shall need no solicitors if your story be true. I shall not seek to defraud Miles' son of his birthright; I shall yield it to him."
"You will find it true in every particular," she said; "and remember always that it is your own fault I have told it."
With that parting shot she quitted the room.
"My poor boy," said Sir John, "this is a terrible blow to you."
"I am afraid," said Lady Thesiger, "that this abominable woman has spoken the truth. I always thought poor Miles had something on his mind—some secret. I told him so one day, and he did not deny it."
My darling came up to me with her sweet, pale face and outstretched hands.
"Never mind, Edgar," she said. "If you lose Crown Anstey I will try to love you all the more to make up for it."
What could I do but bless her and thank her? Yet I knew—God help me, I knew in losing my fortune I lost her!