“‘But me no buts, young man. As your attorney and rightful executor of your estate, I have the right to demand an interview, and I am going to take advantage of that right.’
“There being nothing more to say, and it seeming only natural and right to obey the commands of this great, blustering attorney, I submitted, and lounged back against the soft, upholstered seat with a great sigh of relaxation.
“My father’s attorney talked incessantly until we reached our destination, giving me no time to think. At his home he directed me to a large room, saying that in an hour’s time he would meet me in his study, where, over a good dinner and a bottle or two of choice Madeira, we could talk in comfort.
“Ah, the luxury of that bath and the subsequent putting on of a clean, whole suit of clothes placed upon the bed by the so obsequious man servant, who said his master had sent these clothes with his compliments and the hope that they would fit. The clothes I accepted thankfully enough, for I had decided to ask M. Cartier the address of a shop in the city in which I might purchase myself a cheap but respectable suit, for I had still a little money left.
“In Monsieur Cartier’s study again that night I learned many things. I learned, among other things, that my father had long been suspected of being somewhat of a miser—that he was thought to possess a great deal more money than he cared to let people know about. Also, I learned that, several days before his death, he had made a flying visit to a little chateau which had been owned by a friend of his—I must have started, for the lawyer asked if I had heard of the place. ‘Yes, I had heard of it—but please go on.’ 99
“‘Well, he stayed over night that night,’ the lawyer continued, ‘saying that he had come in search of his ward, who had run away from home.’
“‘Yes, yes,’ I cried; ‘go on! What then?’
“‘Well it seems that in the night the good dame heard a noise, and, rising to investigate, came upon your father in the attic, bending over something, the nature of which she could not make out.’
“‘But, Monsieur, you mean to say my father——’ I began, but he interrupted me with an admonitory wave of the hand.
“‘If you will but wait till I have finished, Monsieur Charloix,’ he said, ‘I will be glad to answer any and all of your questions. As I have said, your father was bending over some object and was so absorbed that he did not hear our good friend till she ventured a gentle cough by way of introduction. At the slight sound, your father sprang forward with an oath, leveling the pistol at the good dame’s head——’”