"P.S.--You know it is little matter, between sisters, which possesses
the property, so all share it. E."
Claude Bainrothe called that afternoon, and placed in my hand the copy
of the codicil that had been sent to Evelyn, together with the lawyer's
letter to which she had alluded, and which, on consulting with him, she
found it unnecessary to take with her to New York, her identity being
already established, beyond a doubt, with that of the legatee, in the
eyes of the American agent in possession of all the facts of the case
from the London attorney. I examined the codicil closely, and could find
no flaw! It purported to be the last will of the Lady Frances Pomfret,
who revoked all other bequests, in order to bestow her whole property on
her niece, Evelyn Erle.
I confess I had felt some doubts as to the existence at all of such a
person, of whom I had never before heard mention made, until I read her
last bequest, and saw with my own eyes the business-like letter,
confirming the whole transaction of Mr. James Mainwaring, the London
attorney, with its foreign post-mark, and huge office seal. This was
accompanied by one from a legal gentleman of New York, whose name was
familiar to me, as my father's agent, and which confirmed the truth of
the matter in the most effectual way; for, in his letter, Evelyn was
advised to come to New York and receive her legacy.
Pages:
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234