“And was he related to Mr. Martindale?”
“No, father,” replied Signora Rivolta; “but an accidental acquaintance led Mr. Martindale to think very highly of this gentleman’s moral and intellectual qualities; and observing his disinterestedness and good feeling in various instances, it was the intention of my late father to leave him a legacy; and the young gentleman has shown a proper, and perhaps an almost refined and fastidious feeling on the subject.”
Hereupon Signora Rivolta went on to state the particulars, of which the reader is already in possession. Father Martini on this looked thoughtful; and several times he was about to speak, but he checked himself, and at last he abruptly said, “Of what does the property consist?”
“That I cannot tell you,” said the daughter of the late John Martindale; “but Mr. Markham will be here again to-morrow, and you may learn from him all that you wish to know on the subject.”
CHAPTER XIX.
“I can inform you by experience now,
How great a satisfaction ’tis to find