“I had almost sworn never to hold any communication with that man again. But for his wife’s dear sake I will write the letter. And now Mr. Kent, there is our first dinner-bell. Allow me to ring for a servant, who will show you to a chamber prepared for you. I will await you here and take you to the dining-room.”
The dust-covered lawyer bowed his thanks and followed the servant who was called to attend him.
At dinner that day, the lawyer, for the first time met his beautiful client, Mrs. Alexander Lyon. And with all his experience of mankind, great was his wonder that any man in his sober senses could have abandoned such a lovely young creature.
Mr. Kent stayed two days at Old Lyon Hall, and then, primed with instructions and with a letter to Alexander, he left for Washington and Baltimore.
It happened just as General Lyon had predicted.
Alexander, sulking at his apartments in one of the most fashionable hotels in the Capital, received the lawyer’s visit and his uncle’s letter.
He was immeasurably astonished at the announcement of his wife’s inheritance of an enormous fortune. At first, indeed, he listened to the intelligence with scornful incredulity; but when convinced beyond all doubt of the truth, his amazement was unbounded. He had never before heard of the California billionaire, and could not now realize the fact that poor Drusilla was a great heiress. He scarcely succeeded in concealing from the lawyer the excess of his amazement. He was, literally, almost “stunned” by the news.
The lawyer’s time was precious; so, barely giving Mr. Alexander a minute to recover his lost breath, and acting upon General Lyon’s instructions he proposed to the husband to resign the whole of her newly-inherited wealth to his discarded wife.
Alexander arose, a proud disdain curling his lips and flashing from his eyes, and answered haughtily:
“Unquestionably, sir! Prepare the proper papers with your utmost despatch. I had intended to sail for Europe in Saturday’s steamer, but I will forfeit my passage and wait here until these deeds shall be executed; for I could no more bear to hold an hour’s interest in her inheritance than I could bear any other sort of ignominy. How soon can the documents be ready?”