I never looked at them until this very day--but this morning I
happened to open that box, and I saw them, and I thought I'd see what
they were. And this was one--you see, it's in a plain envelope--it was
sealed, but there's no writing on it. I cut the envelope open, and drew
the paper out, and I saw at once it was Mr. John Mallathorpe's will--so
I came straight to you with it."
She handed the envelope over to Nesta, who at once gave it to Eldrick.
The solicitor hastily drew out the enclosure, glanced it over, and
turned sharply to Collingwood with a muttered exclamation.
"Good gracious!" he said. "That man Cobcroft was right! There _was_ a
duplicate! And here it is!"
Mrs. Mallathorpe had come nearer. The sight of the half sheet of
foolscap in Eldrick's hands seemed to fascinate her. And the expression
of her face as she came close to his side was so curious that the
solicitor involuntarily folded up the will and hastily put it behind his
back--he had not only seen that expression but had caught sight of Mrs.
Mallathorpe's twitching fingers.
"Is--that--that--another will?" she whispered. "John Mallathorpe's?"
"Precisely the same--another copy--duly signed and witnessed!" answered
Eldrick firmly. "What you foolishly did was done for nothing. And--it's
the most fortunate thing in the world, Mrs. Mallathorpe, that this has
turned up!--most fortunate for you!"
Mrs.
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