“And if this boy was alive, would the estate be his?”
The lady paused, meanwhile fixing her eyes steadily upon the man before her. Then she approached him and placed her jeweled hand on his arm.
“Rudolph Rugg,” she said, “do you want to be comfortable for life?”
“Yes, ma’am, that’s exactly what I do want.”
“It will come to you now if you say the word,” she said.
“I’ll say it quick enough. Tell me what you want.”
“You talk like a sensible man. But first tell me, is the boy living?”
“Very well, you know where he is. That is important. Now, in order that you may understand what service I want of you, I must tell you a little of my circumstances. I told you that my husband left me the estate.”
“For the boy?” asked the tramp, in excitement.
“To think that Tony the Tramp should be the owner of a splendid estate in old Hingland.”
“I am the owner,” said the lady, frowning.
“But you’re only takin’ care of it for him.”
“I don’t mean that he shall ever know it.”
“My husband secured the inheritance, as you are aware, through the disappearance of his young cousin.”
“But after he was given over by the doctors, he became a prey to superstitious fears, the result of his weakness, and at times experienced great regret for the hand he had in the abduction of the boy.”
“You surprise me, ma’am. He wasn’t that sort when I knew him.”
“No; he was then bold and resolute. Ill health and the approach of death made him superstitious.”
“No; I have a stronger will and greater resolution.”
Her face did not belie her words. There was a cold look in her light gray eyes, and a firmness in her closely pressed lips, which made it clear that she was not likely to be affected by ordinary weakness. She was intensely selfish, and thoroughly unscrupulous as to the means which she employed to carry out her selfish ends.
“So you’re afraid the boy’ll turn up, ma’am?”
“I want to guard against his ever turning up.”
“But he might have learned, or you might. My husband, with the idea of reparation, left the property to me, in trust, but if it should ever be fully ascertained that the boy had died, then it was to be mine absolutely.”
“I begin to see what you’re driving at, ma’am.”
“Stout and hearty, ma’am. He’s been under my care ever since he was a young un, ma’am, and I’ve treated him like he was my own.”