“Who knows of the will besides yourself?” asked Carnac sharply.
“No one. There is a letter to the bank simply saying that another will exists and where it is, but that’s all.
“And you could have destroyed that will in my favour?”
“That’s so.” The voice of Tarboe was rough with feeling, his face grew dark. “More than once I willed to destroy it. It seemed at first I could make better use of the property than you. The temptation was big, but I held my own, and now I’ve no fear of meeting anyone in Heaven or Hell. I’ve told you all....
“Not quite all. There’s one thing more. The thought of Junia Shale made me want to burn the second will, and I almost did it; but I’m glad I didn’t.”
“If you had, and had married her, you wouldn’t have been happy. You can’t be fooling a wife and be safe.”
“I guess I know that—just in time.... I have a bad heart, Carnac. Your property came to me against my will through your father, but I wanted the girl you’re going to marry, and against my will you won her. I fought for her. I thought there was a chance for me, because of the rumour you were secretly married—”
“I’ll tell you about it, Tarboe, now. It was an ugly business.” And he told in a dozen sentences the story of Luzanne and the false marriage.
When he had finished, Tarboe held out his hand. “It was a close shave, Carnac.”
After a few further remarks, Tarboe said: “I thought there was a chance for me with Junia Shale, but there never was a real one, for she was yours from a child. You won her fairly, Carnac. If you’ll come to the office to-morrow morning, I’ll show you the will.”