"PAINFUL? That's not the word. Disgustin' I call it," corrected Alaric.
Mr. Hawkes thought a moment. Then he said: "Under those circumstances, perhaps a clause in the will may have a certain interest and an element of relief."
As two drowning people clinging to the proverbial straws the mother and son waited breathlessly for Mr. Hawkes to go on.
Ethel showed no interest whatever.
"When Mr. Kingsnorth realised that he had not very much longer to live he spoke constantly of his other sister—Angela," resumed Mr. Hawkes.
"Angela?" cried Mrs. Chichester in surprise; "why, she is dead."
"That was why he spoke of her," said Hawkes gravely. "And not a word of me?" asked Mrs. Chichester.
"We will come to that a little later," and Mr. Hawkes again referred to the will. "It appears that this sister Angela married at the age of twenty, a certain Irishman by name O'Connell, and was cut off by her family—"
"The man was an agitator—a Fenian agitator. He hadn't a penny. It was a disgrace—"
Alaric checked his mother again.