Then followed the distribution of the legacies. Among the
rest the sum of a thousand dollars was left to his young friend
Traverse Rocke, and another thousand to his esteemed neighbor Marah
Rocke. Gabriel Le Noir was appointed sole executor of the will,
trustee of the property and guardian of the heiress.
At the conclusion of the reading Mr. Sauter folded the document and
laid it upon the table.
Colonel Le Noir arose and said:
"The will of the late Doctor Day has been read in your presence. I
presume you all heard it, and that there can be no mistake as to its
purport. All that remains now is to act upon it. I shall claim the
usual privilege of twelve months before administering upon the
estate or paying the legacies. In the mean time, I shall assume the
charge of my ward's person, and convey her to my own residence,
known as the Hidden House. Mrs. Rocke," he said, turning toward the
latter, "your presence and that of your young charge is no longer
required here. Be so good as to prepare Miss Day's traveling trunks,
as we set out from this place to-morrow morning."
Mrs. Rocke started, looked wistfully in the face of the speaker and,
seeing that he was in determined earnest, turned her appealing
glances toward Traverse and Doctor Williams.
As for Clara, her face, previously blanched with grief, was now
flushed with indignation.
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