“My dear sir,” said the little man, seizing his hand, “I congratulate you.”
“You’re very kind, but pray, explain why.”
“I find that you are heir to a considerable fortune.”
Miles was somewhat interested in this, and asked, “How’s that?”
“Well, you remember Hardy’s will, which you put into my hands a few days ago?”
“Yes; what then? That can’t be the fortune!”
“Indeed it is. Hardy, you remember, made you his residuary legatee. I find, on inquiry, that the old cousin you told me about, who meant to leave all his money to build a hospital, changed his mind at the last and made out a will in favour of Hardy, who was his only relative. So, you see, you, being Hardy’s heir, have come into possession of something like two thousand a year.”
To this Miles replied by a whistle of surprise, and then said, “Is that all?”
“Upon my word, sir,” said the ‘kind little lawyer,’ in a blaze of astonishment, “you appear to take this communication in a peculiar manner!”
“You mistake me,” returned Miles, with a laugh. “I don’t mean ‘is that all the fortune?’ but ‘is that all you have to say?’”