He, however, asks four
years to pay the balance in, which would carry bank interest in the
meanwhile."
Winston, who was glad of the excuse, spent at least ten minutes
studying the paper, and realized that it referred to a large and
well-appointed farm, though it occurred to him that the crop was a good
deal smaller than it should have been. He noticed this as it were
instinctively, for his brain was otherwise very busy.
"Colonel Barrington seems somewhat anxious to get rid of me," he said.
"You see, this land is mine by right."
"Yes," said the lawyer. "Colonel Barrington does not dispute it,
though I am of opinion that he might have done so under one clause of
the will. I do not think we need discuss his motives."
Winston moistened his lips with his tongue, and his lips quivered a
little. He had hitherto been an honest man, and now it was impossible
for him to take the money. It, however, appeared equally impossible to
reveal his identity and escape the halter, and he felt that the dead
man had wronged him horribly. He was entitled at least to safety by
way of compensation, for by passing as Courthorne he would avoid
recognition as Winston.
"Still I do not know how I have offended Colonel Barrington," he said.
"I would sooner," said the lawyer, "not go into that. It is, I fancy,
fifteen years since Colonel Barrington saw you, but he desired me to
find means of tracing your Canadian record, and did not seem pleased
with it.
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