Allan and the Ice Gods Read Free Page A

that we should have lunch.”
    So we lunched, talking of indifferent matters while the servants were
    in the room, and afterward returned to my study, where the documents
    were read and expounded to me by Mr. Mellis. To cut the story short,
    it seemed that my inheritance was enormous; I am afraid to state from
    memory at what figure it was provisionally valued. Subject to certain
    reservations, such as an injection that no part of the total, either
    in land or in money, was to be alienated in favour of Mr. Atterby-Smith, a relative of Lord Ragnall whom the testatrix held in great
    dislike, or any member of his family, and that, for part of the year,
    I must inhabit Ragnall Castle, which might not be sold during my
    lifetime, or even let. All this vast fortune was left at my absolute
    disposal, both during my life and after my death. Failure to observe
    these trusts might, it seemed, invalidate the will. In the event of my
    renouncing the inheritance, however, Ragnall Castle, with a suitable
    endowment, was to become a county hospital, and the rest of the estate
    was to be divided in accordance with the list that I have mentioned—a
    very admirable list, but one which excluded any society or institution
    of a sectarian nature.
    “Now I think that I have explained everything,” said Mr. Mellis at
    length, “except a minor and rather peculiar provision as to your
    acceptance of certain relics, particularly described by the testatrix
    in a sealed letter which I will hand to you presently. So it only
    remains for me, Mr. Quatermain, to ask you to sign a document which I
    have already prepared and brought with me, to enable me to deal with
    these great matters on your behalf. That is,” he added with a bow,
    “should you propose to continue that confidence in our firm with which
    the family of the late Lord Ragnall has honoured it for several
    generations.”
    While he was hunting in his bag for this paper, explaining, as he did
    so, that I must be prepared to face an action brought by Mr. Atterby-Smith, who had been raging round his office “like a wild animal,”
    suddenly I made up my mind.
    “Don’t bother about that paper, Mr. Mellis,” I said, “because Lady
    Ragnall was right in her supposition. I have no intention of accepting
    this inheritance. The estate must go for division to the charities,
    etcetera, set down in her list.”
    The lawyer heard, and stared at me.
    “In my life,” he gasped at last, “I have known mad testators and mad
    heirs, but never before have I come across a case where both the
    testator and the heir were mad. Perhaps, sir, you will be pleased to
    explain.”
    “With pleasure,” I said when I had finished lighting my pipe. “In the
    first place, I am already what is called a rich man and I do not want
    to be bothered with more money and property.”
    “But, Mr. Quatermain,” he interrupted, “you have a son who, with such
    wealth behind him, might rise to anything—yes, anything.” (This was
    true, for, at that time, my boy Harry was living.)
    “Yes, but, as it chances, Mr. Mellis, I have ideas upon this matter
    which you may think peculiar. I do not wish my son to begin life with
    enormous resources, or even the prospect of them. I wish him to fight
    his own way in the world. He is going to be a doctor. When he has
    succeeded in his profession and learned what it means to earn one’s
    own bread, it will be time for him to come into other people’s money.
    Already I have explained this to him with reference to my own, and
    being a sensible youth, he agrees with me.”
    “I daresay,” groaned the lawyer. “Such—well, failings—as yours, are
    often hereditary.”
    “Another thing is,” I went on, “that I do not wish to be bothered by a
    lawsuit with Mr. Atterby-Smith. Further, I cannot bind myself to live
    half the year in Ragnall Castle in a kind of ducal state. Very likely,
    before all is done, I might want to return to Africa, which then I
    could not do. In short,