The Argosy — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

276 The Amethyst Seal. Barrowcliff and sent off his message, and waited for the reply, which was: ‘* Draft of will safely to hand.” So the baronet’s mind was set at rest on that score. About a week later Mr. Symes in person arrived at Wenlock Towers. He brought with him Sir George’s will, drawn up in due form, in accordance with the instructions which he had received. He dined and slept at the Towers, and had an interview with the Baronet in his own room next morning. The will was read over and approved of The Vicar of the parish and Mr. Selwyn of Crombie, who were to act as witnesses, would arrive a little later on and stay to luncheon. When Mr. Symes had finished reading the will, he said to his client: ‘Here is the draft, Sir George, which I received from you by post. I thought it best to give it back into your own hands.” ‘It’s only so much waste paper now, and may as well be burnt. By-the-bye, it was posted the very night the London bag was broken open by some scoundrel who personated my son. I suppose, how- ever, that you received it in the course of the following day ?” ‘No, I didn’t,” returned the lawyer. ‘This envelope, as you may see for yourself, if you care to examine it, bears the Stilwater postmark of December 3rd, the London postmark of the 4th, and it reached my office by the first delivery on the morning of the 5th.” Sir George rang for his son. ‘I thought you told me,” he said to Bruce, “ that the letters which were in the bag that was broken open on the night of the 3rd, were sent on by the six o’clock train next moming, and would be delivered in London by mid-day or a little later ?” “‘ That is quite correct, sir.” ‘Vet Symes tells me he didn’t receive the draft of the will til the morning of the fifth.” “ That is certainly very singular,” answered Bruce. The draft, still in its original envelope, was on the table. Bruce took it up with a view of examining the postmarks, but the moment his eye fell on the seal, which was still intact—Mr. Symes, in his business- like way, having cut carefully round it with a penknife, when opening the envelope—the expression of his countenance changed. “When I posted this document, sir,” he said, turning to his father, “‘I certainly did not notice that you had fastened it up with a seal that I had never seen before.” ‘“‘ Eh—what !” exclaimed the Baronet. ‘I only sealed it with the seal I always use.” Bruce handed him the envelope without another word. Sir George put on his spectacles and crossed to the window and examined the seal minutely. ‘‘Symes—Bruce,” he exclaimed presently in a hollow voice, “‘this envelope has been tampered with! This is no seal of mine; I never saw it before.” The three men looked at each other in consternation. On what followed it is not needful that we should dwell. The whole affair ECONMCOOOKS.CO mn