thinks
she does. She is a pretty girl and sings nicely. Madame, too, is
very charming. I work at the other things with the Pasteur, who is
kind to me. He will write to you also and I will enclose his
letter.

"Your affectionate son, "Godfrey."

The receipt of this epistle caused astonishment in Mr. Knight, not
unmixed with irritation. Why could not the boy be more explicit? Who
was Miss Ogilvy, whose name, so far as he could recollect, he now heard
for the first time, and how did she come to leave Godfrey so much
money? The story was so strange that he began to wonder whether it were
a joke, or perhaps, an hallucination. If not, there must be a great
deal unrevealed. The letter which Godfrey said the Pasteur would write
was not enclosed, and if it had been, probably would not have helped
him much as he did not understand French, and could scarcely decipher
his cramped calligraphy. Lastly, he had heard nothing from any lawyers
or trustees.

In his bewilderment he went straight to Hawk's Hall, taking the letter
with him, with a view to borrowing books of reference which might
enable him to identify Miss Ogilvy. The butler said that he thought Sir
John was in and showed him to the morning room, where he found Isobel,
who informed him that her father had just gone out. Their meeting was
not affectionate, for as has been told, Isobel detested Mr. Knight, and
he detested Isobel. Moreover, there was a reason, which shall be
explained, which just then made him feel uncomfortable in her presence.
Being there, however, he thought it necessary to explain the object of
his visit.

"I have had a very strange letter from that odd boy, Godfrey," he said,
"which makes me want to borrow a book. Here it is, perhaps you will
read it, as it will save time and explanation."

"I don't want to read Godfrey's letters," said Isobel, stiffly.

"It will save time," repeated Mr. Knight, thrusting it towards her.

Then, being overcome by curiosity, she read it. The money part did not
greatly interest her; money was such a common thing of which she heard
so much. What interested her were, first, Miss Ogilvy and the
unexplained reasons of her bequest, and secondly, in a more acute
fashion, Mademoiselle Boiset, who was pretty and sang so nicely. Miss
Ogilvy, whoever she might have been, at any rate, was dead, but
Juliette clearly was much alive, with her prettiness and good voice. No
wonder, then, that she had not heard from Godfrey.