Mrs. Lecount had not only
established herself at Zurich, but (wisely mindful of the uncertainty of
life) had also settled the charitable uses to which her fortune was to
be applied after her death. One half of it was to go to the founding of
a "Lecompte Scholarship" for poor students in the University of Geneva.
The other half was to be employed by the municipal authorities of Zurich
in the maintenance and education of a certain number of orphan girls,
natives of the city, who were to be trained for domestic service
in later life. The Swiss journalist adverted to these philanthropic
bequests in terms of extravagant eulogy. Zurich was congratulated on
the possession of a Paragon of public virtue; and William Tell, in the
character of benefactor to Switzerland, was compared disadvantageously
with Mrs. Lecount.
The third week began, and Magdalen was now at liberty to take her first
step forward on the way to the discovery of the Secret Trust.
She ascertained from old Mazey that it was his master's custom, during
the winter and spring months, to occupy the rooms in the north wing;
and during the summer and autumn to cross the Arctic passage of
"Freeze-your-Bones," and live in the eastward apartments which looked
out on the garden.
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