"
Mr. Pengarth mopped his forehead once more. It was a terrible thing to
have a conscience.
"Sir Wingrave," he said, "I apologize most humbly for what I am about
to say, but as the agent of your estates in this county and
your--er--legal adviser with regard to them, I am forced to ask you
whether you are quite determined upon this--most unexampled piece of
generosity. Tredowen has been in your mother's family for a great many
years, and although I must say that I have a great affection for this
young lady, I have also an old fashioned dislike to seeing--er--family
property pass into the hands of strangers. You might, forgive
me--marry!"
Wingrave smiled very faintly, otherwise his face was inscrutable.
"I might," he admitted calmly, "but I shall not. Do you consider me,
Mr. Pengarth, to be a person in possession of his usual faculties?"
"Oh, most certainly--most certainly," the lawyer declared
emphatically.
"Then please do not question my instructions any further. So far as
regards the pecuniary part of it, I am a richer man than you have any
idea of, Mr. Pengarth, and for the rest--sentiment unfortunately does
not appeal to me. I choose to give the Tredowen estates away, to
disappoint my next of kin. That is how you may regard the transaction.
We will go into the house and complete this deed."
Wingrave rose slowly and walked with some difficulty up the gravel
path. He ignored, however, his companion's timid offer of help, and
led the way to the library.
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