I simply
had to tell her things. Then, when I had finished, she showed me
her bankbooks and suggested that she should invest some of her
money in the Rise."
"But do you mean to tell me," Beatrice persisted, "that it is her
money upon which you are relying for this purchase?"
Tavernake nodded.
"You see," he explained, "Mr. Dowling dropped upon us before I
was prepared. As soon as he found out, he went to the owners of
the estate and made them a bid for it. The consequence was that
they shortened my option and gave me very little chance indeed to
find the money. When your sister offered it, it certainly seemed
a wonderful stroke of fortune. I could give her eight or ten per
cent, whereas she would only get four anywhere else, and I should
make a profit for myself of over ten thousand pounds, which I
cannot do unless I find the money to buy the estate."
"But you mustn't touch that money, you mustn't have anything to
do with it!" Beatrice exclaimed, walking very fast and looking
straight ahead. "You don't understand. How should you?"
"Do you mean that the money was stolen?" Tavernake asked, after a
moment's pause.
"No, not stolen," Beatrice replied, "but it comes--oh! I can't
tell you, only Elizabeth has no right to it. My own sister! It
is all too awful!"
"Do you think that she has come by this money dishonestly?"
"I am not sure," Beatrice murmured. "There are worse things,
more terrible things even than theft.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236