"Now," said the old lawyer, glancing up over his spectacles, "our
object is to trace this girl, who is the only surviving heir of the
McGregor estate."
"But on what ground do you ignore Jessie McGregor, who may yet be
alive? She cannot be a centenarian yet, sir."
"True," replied the former, "but Robert McGregor was aware of the
fact of his sister's death some years ago. The latter was too proud
to ask forgiveness for her rash act, and all intimacy ceased when
she left her parent's protection, for old Hugh McGregor was a harsh,
unrelenting man, whom if once thwarted could never be conciliated."
"And how do you intend to proceed? Have you any further
information?"
"None, sir--except that by some intelligence from New Brunswick
about ten years ago, Robert McGregor heard that his sister's child
married a farmer and was comfortably settled."
"There is little trouble in finding the heirs then. Is the property
a valuable one?"
"Real and personal estate amounts to something in the vicinity of
forty thousand dollars."
"Not a bad heritage, I assure you, sir," said the other, with the
least perceptible smile.
A month after the above conversation took place the lawyer was
interviewed by the same individual.
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