CHAPTER XLII

outcomment.IammorallycertainthatsheiswithhersisteratHowardsEnd.Thehouseismine—and,Charles,itwillbeyours—andwhenIsaythatnooneistolivethere,Imeanthatnooneistolivethere.Iwon’thaveit.”Helookedangrilyatthemoon.“Tomymindthisquestionisconnectedwithsomethingfargreater,therightsofpropertyitself.” “Undoubtedly,”saidCharles. Mr.Wilcoxlinkedhisarminhisson’s,butsomehowlikedhimlessashetoldhimmore.“Idon’twantyoutoconcludethatmywifeandIhadanythingofthenatureofaquarrel.Shewasonlyoverwrought,aswhowouldnotbe?IshalldowhatIcanforHelen,butontheunderstandingthattheyclearoutofthehouseatonce.Doyousee?Thatisasinequanon.” “Thenateightto-morrowImaygoupinthecar?” “Eightorearlier.Saythatyouareactingasmyrepresentative,and,ofcourse,usenoviolence,Charles.” Onthemorrow,asCharlesreturned,leavingLeonarddeaduponthegravel,itdidnotseemtohimthathehadusedviolence.Deathwasduetoheartdisease.Hisstepmotherherselfhadsaidso,andevenMissAveryhadacknowledgedthatheonlyusedtheflatofthesword.Onhiswaythroughthevillageheinformedthepolice,whothankedhim,andsaidtheremustbeaninquest.Hefoundhisfatherinthegardenshadinghiseyesfromthesun. “Ithasbeenprettyhorrible,”saidCharlesgravely.“Theywerethere,andtheyhadthemanuptherewiththemtoo.” “What—whatman?” “Itoldyoulastnight.HisnamewasBast.” “MyG