"And
now help me to save the only child of your ill-fated friend. I am sure
that you can help me."
Without waiting to be questioned, Valentine related the circumstances of
Charlotte's illness, and of his interview with Mr. Burkham.
"I did not even know that the poor girl was ill," said George Sheldon. "I
have not seen Phil for months. He came here one day, and I gave him a bit
of my mind. I told him if he tried to harm her I'd let the light in upon
him and his doings. And I'll keep my word."
"But his motive? What, in the name of Heaven, can be his motive for
taking her innocent life? He knows of the Haygarth estate, and must hope
to profit by her fortune if she lives."
"Yes, and to secure the whole of that fortune if she dies. Her death
would make her mother sole heir to that estate, and the mother is the
merest tool in his hands. He may even have induced Charlotte to make a
will in his favour, so that he himself may stand in her shoes."
"She would not have made a will without telling me of it."
"You don't know that. My brother Phil can do anything. It would be as
easy for him to persuade her to maintain secrecy about the transaction as
to persuade her to make the will. Do you suppose _he_ shrinks from
multiplying lies and forgeries and hypocrisies? Do you suppose anything
in that small way comes amiss to the man who has once brought his mind to
murder? Why, look at the Scotch play of that fellow Shakespeare's.
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