Anne Belinda Read Online Free Page B

don’t know anything. I can give you a few disconnected facts, most of which are public property.”
    â€œThat’s better.”
    â€œThey don’t amount to much. We drew up Lady Marr’s settlement, as I told you. She came in once to sign some papers, and brought her sister with her. Sir Anthony wasn’t able to come to town, so my uncle went down to see him once or twice.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œThere’s really nothing I can tell you.”
    â€œGo on! Get it off your chest!”
    â€œLady Marr was married in April—at least I think it was April—last April year. She was married in London, from an hotel. Her sister wasn’t at the wedding.”
    John’s “Why?” was a sharp exclamation. When he got no answer, he repeated the word in a more ordinary voice.
    â€œWhy wasn’t she?”
    Lewis Smith shrugged his shoulders.
    â€œIllness, I think. I know next time I saw Lady Marr she went out of her way to tell me that her sister had gone abroad for her health.”
    There was a pause. Then John said:
    â€œWhat about the will? Where does that come in? When did Sir Anthony make the will that left everything to one daughter?”
    â€œHe made it within a month of Lady Marr’s marriage. My uncle went down to see him. I don’t mind telling you that he came back a good deal distressed. He hoped, I know, that the dispositions were not final—he said as much to me. Of course, this is all very confidential.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œHe told me he hoped Sir Anthony would change his mind. But there was no time for that; Sir Anthony died just a week after he signed the new will.”
    John got up and walked to the window. He stood there looking down into the wet street. An interminable procession of shiny, dripping umbrellas passed, crossed, and jostled each other.
    â€œWhy did Sir Anthony change his will?” said John, watching the umbrellas.
    â€œI don’t know, Maurice—really I don’t know.”
    â€œDoes Mr. Carruthers know?”
    â€œI don’t think so. He was distressed; and I remember his saying that he couldn’t understand it, and that Sir Anthony was not in a frame of mind to listen to reason.”
    John turned round. He could watch the street and throw a glance at Lewis too if he leaned like this against the window jamb.
    â€œDid Sir Anthony send for him suddenly?”
    â€œYes, very suddenly—he telephoned.”
    â€œAnd Mr. Carruthers found him excited?”
    â€œI suppose so. He said he wouldn’t listen to reason.”
    John turned a sharp look on him.
    â€œWhat d’you make of it? Honest, Lulu.”
    Lewis Smith looked up quite coolly.
    â€œDo you really want me to say what I think?”
    â€œYes, I do.”
    â€œI don’t want to hurt your family feelings.”
    â€œFire away.”
    â€œWell, it seems to me that it’s one of two things—the girl may be off her head; or else she came a cropper of some sort and Sir Anthony found it out. In either case, it would probably be as well to let sleeping dogs lie.”
    Just for a moment an extraordinary, scorching anger flared in John. It surprised him very much, and it was gone as suddenly as it had come. He said:
    â€œThat’s all very well. You mean it’s no business of mine. I suppose it isn’t, personally. But I can’t help feeling responsible all the same. I mean I’ve stepped into her brother’s place, and in that way I think it is my business. Hang it all, Lulu, the girl can’t live on nothing.”
    Lewis Smith lifted his eyebrows.
    â€œWell, there’s Lady Marr.”
    John looked out of the window. He counted eight black umbrellas and a green one. Then he said:
    â€œWhat’s Lady Marr like?”
    â€œVery pretty—knows it too.”
    John jerked impatiently.
    â€œI don’t mean that. What’s she like? You know how some people are—if