The Black Abbot by Edgar Wallace

Author:Edgar Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Black Abbot
ISBN: 9780755122264
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2012-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

35

The truth was out. Leslie stood rigidly behind her brother, looking down on him.

“I am penniless?” she asked.

He had to wet his dry lips before he could speak. “I’ve been trying to work up courage to tell you this for a long time,” he said. “I’m a coward – a cur! You have a few thousand pounds that I couldn’t handle, but every other penny of your fortune I have spent.” His voice was hoarse, scarcely recognisable. “You’ll have to know this sooner or later; you might as well know it now. I don’t know what you’ll think of me. I’d like to say that I didn’t care, but that wouldn’t be the truth. I’ve gambled away a quarter of a million, and I’m as near to bankruptcy and ruin as makes no difference.”

He pulled the lint bandage from his eye and got up and faced her. Save for the discoloration of his cheek, he was white as chalk.

“I’d no intention of telling you,” he said in a low voice, “but you piqued me into it, and I’m glad it’s over.”

Raising his eyes to hers, he did not see the look of condemnation he expected. There was neither contempt nor consternation in her face. The red lips were curved in a half-smile, and in her eyes was nothing but kindliness and pity.

“Thank God!” she said in a low voice, and he could not understand her.

“This means, of course, that Chelford will have to take you without a fortune,” he said.

She shook her head.

“I have already written to Harry, breaking off my engagement,” she answered him. And then her arm slipped through his. “Let us go in to breakfast,” she said. “This is one of the happiest days of my life.”

The letter came to Harry Alford, Earl of Chelford, with two or three other personal letters; his main correspondence was with London booksellers, for he was a restless collector of ancient tomes. He looked at the letter, recognising the handwriting, frowned and turned it over. Then, with some evidence of annoyance, he slit the flap.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.