days later.
'Ah, Mr. Kane,' said Thomas Cohen, 'how nice to see you again. Would you care for some coffee?'
'No, thank you.'
'Shall I send someone out for a Coca - Cola?'
William's face was expressionless.
'To business, to business,' said Mr. Cohen, slightly embarrassed. 'We have, dug around a little on your behalf, Mr. Kane, with the help of a very respectable firm of private investigators to assist us with the questions you asked that were not purely academic. I think I can safely say we have the answers to all your questions. You asked if Mr. Osborne's offspring by your mother, were there to be any, would have a claim on the Kane estate, or in particular on the trust left to you by your father.
No is the simple answer, but of course Mrs. Osborne can leave any part of the five hundred thousand dollars bequeathed to her by your father to whom she pleases!
Mr.. Cohen looked up, 'However, it may interest you to know, Mr. Kane, that your mother has drawn out the entire five hundred thousand from her private account at Kane and Cabot during the last eighteen months, but we have been unable to trace how the money has been used. It is possible she may have decided to deposit the amount in another bank.'
William looked shocked ' the first sign of any lack of the self - control that Thomas Cohen had noted.
'There would be no reason for her to do that, - William said. 'The money can only haw gone to one person!
The lawyer remained silent, expecting to hear more, but William steadied himself and added nothing, so Mr. Cohen continued.
'The answer to your second question is that you have no personal or legal obligations to Mr. Henry Osborne at all. Under the terms of your fathers will, you mother is a trustee of the estate along vrith a Mr. Alan Lloyd and a Mrs. John Preston, your surviving godparents, until you come of age at twenty - one!
Thomas Cohen looked up again. William's face showed no expression at all.
Cohen had already learned that that meant he should continue.
'And thirdly, Mr. Kane, you can never remove Mr. Osborne from Beacon Hill as long as he remains married to your mother and continues to reside with her.. The property comes into your possession by natural right on her death. Were he'still alive then, you could require him to leave. I think you will find that covers all your questions, Mr. Kane!
'Tha.nk you, Mr. Cohen,'said William. 'I am obliged for your efficiency and discretion in this matter. Now perhaps you could let me know your professional charges?'
'One hundred dollars doesn't quite cover the work, Mr. Kane, but we have faith in your future and . . .'
'I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, Mr. Cohen, You must treat me as someone with whom you might never deal again. With that in mind, how much do I owe you?'
Mr. Cohen considered the matter for a moment. 'In those circumstances we would have charged you two hundred and twenty dollars, Mr. Kane.'
William took six twenty - dollar notes from his inside pocket and handed them over to Cohen. This time, the lawyer did not count them.
'I am grateful to you for your assistance, Mr. Cohen, I am sure we shall meet again. Good day, sir.'
VrDod day, Mr. Kane. May I be permitted to say that I never had the privilege of meeting your distinguished father but having dealt with you, I wish that I had.'
William smiled and softened. 'Thank you, sir!
Preparing for the baby kept Anne fully occupied; she found herself easily tired and resting a good deal. Whenever she enquired of Henry how business was going, he always had some plausible answer to hand, enough to reassure her that all was well without supplying her with any actual details.
Then one morning the anonymous letters started coming again. This time they gave more details, the names of the women involved and the places they could be seen with Henry. Anne burned them even before she could commit the names or places to memory. She didn't want to believe that her husband could be unfaithful while she was carrying his child. Someone was jealous and had it in for Henry, and he or she had to be lying.
The letters kept coming, sometimes with new names. Anne continued to destroy them, but now they were beginning to prey on her mind. She wanted to discuss the whole problem with someone, but