Hugh Fraser Johnstone's
stony face was carelessly impassive.
"Pray examine these seals!" the newcomer said, "and, remember, Mr.
Johnstone, that we exact your absolute release for the long-continued
responsibility. Here is a memorandum of the storage and charges.
You must sign, also, as Hugh Fraser--now Hugh Fraser Johnstone."
Old Hugh Johnstone's voice never trembled, as he said, after a
minute inspection:
"I will give you a cheque." Then, dashing off his signature upon the
receipt tendered by Madame Louison, he calmly said: "These things
are only of a trifling value--some long-treasured trinkets of my
dead wife's. May I be left alone for a moment?"
The three silent witnesses retired into an adjoining room. In
five minutes, Hugh Johnstone called the Bank Governor to his side.
"There is your receipt, duly signed, and your cheque to balance,
Mr. Governor. We are now both relieved of a tiresome controversy.
Will you please bring in the others?"
With a pleasant smile, the flush of a great happiness upon his
face, Hugh Fraser Johnstone remarked: "I desire to state publicly
that Madame Louison and my self have, in this little transaction,
closed all our affairs. I have given to her a quit-claim release of
all and every demand whatsoever." With kindly eyes, Berthe Louison
listened to a few murmured words from Hugh Johnstone. Bowing her
stately head, she swept from the room upon the arm of the polite
manager of Grindlay's.
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