The Argosy — page 338: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

266 The Amethyst Seal. earnestly ; “though I do not think it at all lkely that he would do so.” This was a generous-hearted wish on the part of Bruce Wenlock, seeing that he was his father’s only son, and that whatever was be- queathed to others would be so much loss to himself. Dare threw a quick glance at his companion’s face. “‘T believe he really means what he says,” he muttered to himself. He had a vague feeling that were he in Bruce's place no such wish would emanate from him. Presently Bruce went indoors to write a note, after which the cousins were to walk down to the village together. Harold was not sorry to be left alone for a little while. One remark of Bruce’s had set him thinking ; had indeed driven his thoughts into quite a new channel. His cousin had said: “If this could reveal its secrets it might tell us something worth knowing.” Harold could not get these words out of his mind It would indeed be a secret worth knowing if he could by any means ascertain the baronet’s intentions with regard to himself. No one but himself knew how near he was to the verge of ruin. Not much longer would Mr. Shadrach wait for his money unless he could prove to that astute individual’s satisfaction that a policy of delay would bring him in more substantial advantages in time to come. Sir George had made him an allowance of two hundred a year ever since he had entered on his duties at the office of the Green Wand, so that he was scarcely likely to forget him in his will. But the question was as to the limit which the baronet in such a case would set to his generosity. Would he think five thousand pounds too little to bequeath to the son of his cousin? would he think ten thousand pounds too much? or was it not just possible that Sir George might satisfy his conscience by bequeathing him a paltry legacy of one or two thousand only? What would he not give for a glimpse at the paper at that moment in Bruce Wenlock’s pocket ! Then again as regarded Elinor Trenton, although she was only Sir George’s ward and no relation at all, he was almost sure to remember her in his will. He had no daughter of his own and did not disguise his liking for Elinor. What more natural than that he should put her name down for a legacy of five or six thousand pounds. If he, Harold, could only assure himself that such was the fact he would propose to her at once. He was in love with her as much as it was in his nature to be in love with anyone, but as he had told himself over and over again, he could not afford to marry a penniless wife. If only some wizard would put that red-sealed paper into his hands for three minutes, what a chapter of the future would be revealed to him! Were there no possible means, fair or unfair—in such a case it would be foolish to stick at trifles—by which he could obtain a sight at it? No: none, none! ECONMCOOOKS.CO mn