"
No more was said. The two men passed to their respective carriages, and
the funeral procession moved homewards.
In the grand dining-hall of the castle, Sir Oswald's lawyer was to read
the will. Kinsmen, friends, servants, all were assembled to hear the
reading of that solemn document.
In the place of honour sat Lady Eversleigh. She sat on the right hand
of the lawyer, calm and dignified, as if no taint of suspicion had ever
tarnished her fame.
The solicitor read the will. It was that will which Sir Oswald had
executed immediately after his marriage--the will, of which he had
spoken to his nephew, Reginald.
It made Honoria Eversleigh sole mistress of the Raynham estates. It
gave to Lionel and Douglas Dale property worth ten thousand a year. It
gave to Reginald a small estate, producing an income of five hundred a
year. To Captain Copplestone the baronet left a legacy of three
thousand pounds, and an antique seal-ring which had been worn by
himself.
The old servants of Raynham were all remembered, and some curious old
plate and gold snuff-boxes were left to Mr. Wargrave, the rector, and
Gilbert Ashburne.
This was all. Five hundred a year was the amount by which Reginald had
profited by the death of a generous kinsman.
By the terms of Sir Oswald's will the estates of Lionel and Douglas
Dale would revert to Reginald Eversleigh in case the owners should die
without direct heirs.
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