Lecount's bitterest enemy. "What a head you have
got!" were the grateful words which he now spoke again to Mrs. Lecount
herself. So do extremes meet; and such is sometimes the all-embracing
capacity of the approval of a fool!
"Allow my head, sir, to deserve the compliment which you have paid to
it," said Mrs. Lecount. "The letter to the admiral is not written yet.
Your will there is a body without a soul--an Adam without an Eve--until
the letter is completed and laid by its side. A little more dictation
on my part, a little more writing on yours, and our work is done. Pardon
me. The letter will be longer than the will; we must have larger paper
than the note-paper this time."
The writing-case was searched, and some letter paper was found in it of
the size required. Mrs. Lecount resumed her dictation; and Noel Vanstone
resumed his pen.
"Baliol Cottage, Dumfries,
"November 3d, 1847.
"Private.
"DEAR ADMIRAL BARTRAM--When you open my Will (in which you are named my
sole executor), you will find that I have bequeathed the whole residue
of my estate--after payment of one legacy of five thousand pounds--to
yourself. It is the purpose of my letter to tell you privately what the
object is for which I have left you the fortune which is now placed in
your hands.
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