It was an ingenious fabrication, and Mrs. Middleton plumed herself upon it.
"Poor boy!" she said, with a hypocritical sigh, "his was a sad fate."
"It was, indeed," said the lawyer; "but," he added, dryly, "you have no cause to regret it, since it secures the estate."
"Don't mention it, Mr. Brief. It is sad to profit by such a tragedy."
"You don't take a business view of it, madame. Such things happen, and if we can't prevent them, we may as well profit by them."
"Of course I will not refuse what has fallen in my way," said Mrs. Middleton; "but I had formed the plan, if I found the boy alive, of bringing him home and educating him for his position. He would not have let me want."
"Don't she do it well, though?" thought Rudolph, who heard all this with a cynical admiration for the ex-governess. "If I was a gentleman, I'd make up to her, and make her Mrs. Rugg if she'd say the word."
"You think this man's evidence will substantiate my claim to the estate?" she asked, after a pause.
"I should say there was no doubt on that point, unless, of course, his evidence is impeached or contradicted."