"You are not at all like your father, sir," he said, "but like your dear mother, Heaven bless her!"
"You knew my mother?"
"She died in my arms," said Tamaroo, quietly, and then took out his bundle of papers.
Denham, Frank, and Eustace waited anxiously to hear how the old negro would begin. Tamaroo untied the bundle and selected a long, official-looking paper. "The will," he said. "By this, Mr. Frank, you inherit close on a million if you are not hanged!"
"Hanged?" uttered all three in sheer astonishment.
"Hanged," repeated Tamaroo, "before the age of twenty-five."
[CHAPTER XX]
A STRANGE WILL
Tamaroo smiled at the amazement expressed on the faces of his audience, although they had every excuse to look astonished.
"Do you mean to say that such a condition is in the will?" asked Frank.