Far from being
daunted, she was visibly encouraged by the ungraciousness of his manner.
Her experience of him informed her that the sign was a promising one.
On those rare occasions when the little resolution that he possessed
was roused in him, it invariably asserted itself--like the resolution
of most other weak men--aggressively. At such times, in proportion as he
was outwardly sullen and discourteous to those about him, his resolution
rose; and in proportion as he was considerate and polite, it fell. The
tone of the answer he had just given, and the attitude he assumed at the
table, convinced Mrs. Lecount that Spanish wine and Scotch mutton had
done their duty, and had rallied his sinking courage.
"I will put the question to you for form's sake, sir, if you wish it,"
she proceeded. "But I am already certain, without any question at all,
that you have made your will?"
He nodded his head without looking at her.
"You have made it in your wife's favor?"
He nodded again.
"You have left her everything you possess?"
"No."
Mrs. Lecount looked surprised.
"Did you exercise a reserve toward her, Mr. Noel, of your own accord?"
she inquired; "or is it possible that your wife put her own limits to
her interest in your will?"
He was uneasily silent--he was plainly ashamed to answer the question.
Pages:
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916