Red-Robin | Page 9

Cornelius Allendyce.

Mr. Allendyce was just saying, crisply, "Will your mind not rest easier
for knowing that the Forsyth fortune will go to a Forsyth?" when
Harkness rattled the cups.
Then, strangest of all things, Madame ordered him sharply away with
his tray.
Such a thing had never happened before in Harkness' experience and he
had been at Gray Manor for fifty-five years. He grumbled
complainingly to Mrs. Budge, the housekeeper, and to Florrie,
Madame's own maid, who was having a sip of tea with Mrs. Budge in
the cosy warmth of the kitchen.
Florrie asserted that she could tell them a story or two of Madame's
whims and cranks--only it would not become her, inasmuch as
Madame was old and a woman to be pitied. "Poor thing, with this curse
on the house, who wouldn't have jumps and fidgets? I don't see I'm sure
how any of us stand it." But Florrie spoke with a hint of satisfaction--as
though proud to serve where there was a "curse." Harkness and Mrs.
Budge, who had lived at Gray Manor when things were happier,
sighed.
"It's an heir they be talking about now," Harkness admitted.
"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mrs. Budge and Florrie in one breath.
Up in the Chinese room Madame Forsyth was saying; "Do you think
any child of that--branch of the family--could take the place of--"
"Oh, dear Madame," interrupted the lawyer. "I am not suggesting such
a thing! I know how impossible that would be. But on my own
responsibility I have made investigations and I have ascertained that
your husband's nephew has the one child. The nephew's an artist of
sorts and doubtless has his ups and downs--most artists do. Now I
suggest--"
"That I take this--child--"

Mr. Allendyce tactfully ignored the scorn in her voice. "Exactly," he
purred. "Exactly. Gordon is the child's name. A very nice name, I am
sure."
"The child of an obscure artist--"
"Ah, but, Madame, blood is blood. A Forsyth--"
"P'ff!" Madame made a sound like rock hitting rock. Indeed, as she sat
there, her narrow eyes gleaming from her immobile face, her thin lips
tightly compressed, she looked much more like rock than
flesh-and-blood.
Her explosion had the effect of exasperating the little lawyer out of his
habitual attitude of conciliation.
"Madame, I can do no more than advise you in this matter. I have
traced down this child as a possible heir to the Forsyth fortune.
However, you have it in your power to will otherwise. But let me say
this--not as a lawyer but as your friend. You are growing old. Will you
not find, perhaps, more happiness in your old age, if you bring a little
youth into this melancholy old house--"
"I must ask you to withhold your kind wishes until some other time,"
interrupted Madame, dryly. "I am at present seeking your advice as a
lawyer. I have not been regardless of the fact that the House of Forsyth
must have an heir; I have been thinking of it for a long time--in fact,
that is all there is left for me to do. And, though it is exceedingly
distasteful to me, I see the justice in seeking out one of--that family.
But, it must be done in my way. My mind is quite made up to that. You
say there is a--child. I wish you to communicate with this child's
father--this relative of my husband, and inform him that I will make
this child my heir provided he can be brought to Gray Manor at once.
He will live for one year here under your guardianship. I will send for
Percival Tubbs who, you may remember, tutored my grandson.
Doubtless he is old-fogyish but from his long association with our
family he knows the Forsyth traditions and what the head of the House
of Forsyth should be. He will know whether this boy can be trained to

measure up to it. If, after a year, he does not, he must go back--to his
father. I will be fair, of course, as far as money goes. If he does--" She
stopped suddenly, her stony demeanor broken. The thin lips quivered at
the thought of that sunny south room in the great house where had been
left untouched the toys, the books, the games, the precious trophies, the
guns and racquets, golf sticks and gloves which marked each
development of her beloved grandson.
"A very fair plan," murmured the lawyer.
"You have not heard all," went on Madame Forsyth in such a strange
voice that Cornelius Allendyce looked up at her in astonishment. "I am
going away."
"You! Where?" exclaimed the man. He could not quite believe his ears.
"That I do not care to divulge." She enjoyed his amazement. "I am
yielding to a restlessness which in