The sordid moneyed class of England will haggle over bequests and
settlements and dowries on their bridal eve, or by the coffins of
their dead. Herminia had no such ignoble possibilities. How could
he speak of it in her presence at a moment like this? How obtrude
such themes on her august sorrow?
"This was drawn up," Dr. Merrick went on in his austere voice, "the
very day before my late son left London. But, of course, you will
have observed it was never executed."
And in point of fact Herminia now listlessly noted that it lacked
Alan's signature.
"That makes it, I need hardly say, of no legal value," the father
went on, with frigid calm. "I bring it round merely to show you
that my son intended to act honorably towards you. As things stand,
of course, he has died intestate, and his property, such as it is,
will follow the ordinary law of succession. For your sake, I am
sorry it should be so; I could have wished it otherwise. However, I
need not remind you"--he picked his phrases carefully with icy
precision--"that under circumstances like these neither you nor your
child have any claim whatsoever upon my son's estate.
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