“Why, so I soon shall be, I trust,” Carlyon said, setting down his empty glass and rising to his feet.
“It seems to me you are left with this widow on your hands!”
“Nonsense! Once probate has been granted I dare say she will sell the estate, and I hope she may be able to live very comfortably upon the proceeds.”
“It has been so mismanaged since Eustace came of age that she may find it hard to find a purchaser,” John said pessimistically. “Ten to one, too, there will be so many charges on it that the poor girl will find herself in a worse case than ever. Was he in the moneylenders’hands, do you know?”
“I don’t, but I should think very likely. His debts will have to be paid, of course.”
“Not by you!” John said sharply.
“Well, we shall see how it goes. How long are you staying with us, John?”
“I must be in London tomorrow, but I shall come back, of course, now that things have turned out in this way.”
“You need not.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt you will manage it very well without me!” John said, smiling at him. “But that young rascal will have to give his evidence at the inquest, and naturally I shall not stay away at such a time.”