Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/276

266 her father died of heart disease on hearing the sad tidings. In that case, my correspondents inform me that you succeed to the title and estates—which I am also told are of considerable value, including the house and park, ten farms, and a large amount of town property, a rent roll of fifteen thousand a year, and accumulated capital of nearly a hundred thousand pounds."

"Good gracious! Is this really true?"

"Quite true. You can examine the letter for your self."

I took it up and read it through, hardly able to believe my eyes.

"You are indeed a man to be envied, Mr. Hatteras," said the lawyer. "The title is an old one, and I believe the property is considered one of the best in that part of England."

"It is! But I can hardly believe that it is mine."

"There is no doubt about that however. You are a baronet as sure as I am a lawyer. I presume you would like us to take all necessary action in the matter."

"By all means. I am leaving Sydney for a week or two this afternoon, for the Islands. I will sign any necessary papers when I come back."

"I will bear that in mind. And your address in Sydney is "

"Care of The Honourable Mr. Wetherell, Potts Point."

"Thank you. And, by the way, my correspondents desire me to pay in to your account at the bank on their behalf the sum of five thousand pounds. This I will do to-day."

"I am obliged to you. Now I think I must be going. To tell the truth, I hardly know whether I am standing on my head or my heels."