"He was quite angry because I would not tell him about your will. He wanted to know if you had changed it lately."
"And what did you tell him?"
"That I knew nothing of a will."
Mrs. Vernon became thoughtful.
"I presume it would be a shame to cut him off," she said slowly.
"Have you done that?"
"Not yet. In my last will, which Mr. Farley holds, he is almost my sole heir. But I have been thinking of changing my will and leaving him only a quarter of my estate,--one-half of the whole estate to go to charitable institutions, and the remaining quarter to go to my friends, including yourself."
"I did not expect anything to be left to me, Mrs. Vernon. You have given me enough--in fact, more than enough--already."
"You have been like a son to me, Robert. But about Frederic--if he really and truly reforms, I think I will leave him the bulk of my fortune."
"I would not be too hasty. You see, I haven't forgotten the plot he and the doctor hatched against you."