As a fact, it was circumstances that had changed, not his nature. Belassis was a man who could go on swimmingly whilst things were prosperous, whilst the game was in his own hands, and success within his grasp, but he could not stand up against misfortune; and when the tide of his luck seemed turning, he could only look on dismayed, feeling hopelessly unequal to the task of stemming the torrent.
His father had been a clever man, and had put his son in the way of becoming wealthy and respected. He left him a handsome property and a flourishing business, and had secured for him a well-dowered wife. Alfred Belassis therefore had made an excellent start in life, for he was trusted and respected for his father’s sake, and admitted into society for his wife’s.
So long as he had only had to deal with men like Philip Debenham senior, all had gone well. He had fleeced him with impunity, speculated with his money, and had contrived that all gain should be his own, and all loss his client’s. He had even gone so far as to speculate with Maud’s trust-money, and the speculation had been a lamentable failure.
Belassis’ own fortune, too, had suffered through his folly and ill luck; and since this new relative had turned up, with his cool inquiring words and amused incredulous looks, the ground seemed actually slipping away from under his feet, and he could only lean upon his wife for support. The idea that she might now learn the treacherous part he had played towards her, was an added terror; and Belassis sometimes felt disposed to make a bolt for it, and get away altogether from his present surroundings, but his natural weakness and irresolution deterred him.
‘I’m afraid I am but a poor creature, my dear,’ he answered, with a sickly smile. ‘I think I cannot be very well just now.’
‘Pooh, nonsense! You’re well enough, only cowardly. Now look here. I’m nearly sure that Philip Debenham has never seen those words about the later will. For one thing, I don’t believe the paper had ever been unfolded before I opened it out; and for another, if Philip had known of it, the search would have been instituted at once; and if the will had been in existence at all, it would have been found. I’ve never heard that any search has been made; and besides, although Philip did ask you something about a later will, it seemed to be pure guess-work, for he imagined that it had fallen into your hands.’
‘I wish to heaven it had!’ groaned Belassis. ‘If there is another will, and if it is found, we shall be ruined.’
‘Just so; and as we both believe that another will was made, we must take care that it falls into no hands but our own.’
Belassis groaned again.
‘You really think he made another?’