Edward turned pale as he laid the document down
on the table.
"We will ride to-morrow, Edward, and look it over. I intend to rebuild
the house."
Edward made no reply.
"Are you not well?" said the intendant, with surprise.
"Yes, sir," replied Edward, "I am well, I believe; but I confess to
you that I am disappointed. I did not think that you would have
accepted a property from such a source, and so unjustly sequestrated."
"I am sorry, Edward," replied the intendant, "that I should have
fallen in your good opinion; but allow me to observe that you are so
far right that I never would have accepted a property to which there
were living claimants; but this is a different case. For instance, the
Ratcliffe property belongs to little Clara, and is sequestrated. Do
you think I would accept it? Never! But here is property without an
heir; the whole family perished in the flames of Arnwood! There is no
living claimant! It must be given to somebody, or remain with the
government. This property, therefore, and this property only, out of
all sequestrated, I selected, as I felt that, in obtaining it, I did
harm to no one. I have been offered others, but have refused them. I
would accept of this, and this only; and that is the reason why my
applications have hitherto been attended with no success.
Pages:
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427