Ammon Quatia gave me, weighs over twenty pounds, and as it is of
the purest gold it is worth about a thousand pounds, a sum amply
sufficient to keep me and pay my expenses till I have passed.
Besides, Mr. Goodenough has, I believe, left me something in his
will. I sent home one copy to his lawyer and have brought the other
with me. I must call on the firm this morning. I have also some
thirty pounds' weight in gold which was paid me by the king for
the goods he took, but this, of course, belongs to Mr. Goodenough's
estate."
Upon calling upon the firm of lawyers, and sending in his name, he
was at once shown in to the principal.
"I congratulate you on your safe return, sir," the gentleman said.
"You have called, of course, in reference to the will of the late
Mr. Goodenough."
"Yes," Frank replied. "I sent home one copy from Coomassie and have
brought another with me."
"We received the first in due course," the gentleman said, taking
the document Frank held out to him. "You are, of course, acquainted
with its contents."
"No," Frank answered, "beyond the fact that Mr. Goodenough told me
he had left me a legacy."
"Then I have pleasant news to give you," the lawyer said. "Mr.
Goodenough died possessed of about sixty thousand pounds. He left
fifteen thousand each to his only surviving nephew and niece.
Fifteen thousand pounds he has divided among several charitable
and scientific institutions. Fifteen thousand pounds he has left
to you."
Frank gave a little cry of surprise.
"The will is an eminently just and satisfactory one," the lawyer
said, "for Mr. Goodenough has had but little intercourse with his
relations, who live in Scotland, and they had no reason to expect
to inherit any portion of his property. They are, therefore, delighted
with the handsome legacy they have received. I may mention that Mr.
Goodenough ordered that in the event of your not living to return
to England, five thousand pounds of the portion which would have
come to you was to be paid to trustees for the use of your sister,
the remaining ten thousand to be added to the sum to be divided
among the hospitals."
"This is indeed a surprise," Frank said; "and I shall be obliged,
sir, if you will at once draw out a paper for me to sign settling
the five thousand pounds upon my sister. Whatever may happen then
she will be provided for."
The accession of this snug and most unexpected fortune in no way
altered Frank's views as to his future profession. He worked hard
and steadily and passed with high honors. He spent another three
years in hospital work, and then purchased a partnership in an
excellent West End practice. He is now considered one of the most
rising young physicians of the day. His sister keeps house for him
in Harley Street; but it is doubtful whether she will long continue
to do so. The last time Dick Ruthven was at home on leave he persuaded
her that it was her bounden duty to endeavor to make civilian life
bearable to him when he should attain captain's rank, and, in
accordance with his father's wish, retire from the army, events
which are expected to take place in a few months' time.
Ruthven often laughs and tells Frank that he is a good soldier
spoiled, and that it is a pity a man should settle down as a doctor
who had made his way in life "by sheer pluck."
THE END