Read Online Astra by Grace Livingston Hill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Grace Livingston Hill
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Cameron found himself admiring this quiet girl with the strong, lovely face and the manner of a young princess.
Then suddenly the lawyer arrived and they were plunged at once into business.
The lawyer was keen, with sharp eyes that read character, and he studied the two who waited upon him with interest. He asked a leading question now and then, looking from one to the other, and soon had the whole story before him, as if it had been a moving picture at which he was looking, registering every little detail.
It developed that the lawyer knew all about the property that had been purchased and had had instructions from Mr. Faber what to do in case he was able to get it. It appeared that Mr. Faber must have had some idea that his death might occur at any time, must have known he was in a critical condition when he started on his journey. The lawyer also knew the son, had arranged several business matters on his behalf before, and understood the situation thoroughly. There would be no difficulty in making him believe all that had happened, and the two soon discovered that their job was not to be half so difficult as they had feared.
“Now,” said the lawyer, gathering up the papers they had given him and arranging them in two piles, “can you two hold yourselves in readiness to appear in court anytime in the next two days? Perhaps three? I’ll do my best to arrange it sooner, if possible, and let you know by phone. And that doctor, and the nurse. Are they available? It will be necessary to have testimony from the doctor and the nurse as to the man’s condition.”
“I have a signed written statement from both of them,” said Cameron, handing him an envelope.
“That’s good,” said the lawyer, opening the envelope and glancing over the papers. “I see you have a legal mind.”
Cameron smiled.
“The doctor suggested it,” he said, “when I asked him if he would be available for testimony. He was on his way to New York for an operation and wasn’t sure he could get back tomorrow, though he’s going to try. He will let me know and be here as soon as possible. The nurse goes with him, and they will stop over to make an affidavit, if you can arrange for that.”
“You have his New York address?”
“Yes, it’s on the envelope.”
“Oh yes, I see. Well, I’ll see what I can do. I may want to talk to this doctor by telephone, in case I find it difficult to arrange. All right. Now can you give me two more copies of these papers, and one more copy of these?” He handed the two piles of papers over, and they rose. “You know it is best to keep this thing between ourselves.”
“Of course,” said Cameron. “Miss Everson says she is willing to do any typing connected with the matter.”
“That’s very nice then,” said the lawyer. “I’ll see what I can do with the judge this morning and will try and telephone your office, Mr. Cameron, around two o’clock. Will you be there then? Or perhaps half past one. And you can send those papers over to me as soon as they are copied.”
“Now,” said Cameron when they were down in the street again, “shall we go and snatch a bite, or would you rather wait until the copying is done?”
“Oh, I would rather get the copying ready first. We can eat any time, and it might make a difference somehow if he had it soon,” said Astra.
“That’s true, I suppose. Well then, I’ll take you over to my office. We have an extra machine there, and you will be undisturbed.”
He signaled a taxi, and they were soon at Cameron’s office.
The rooms looked as she would have expected Cameron’s office to look: pleasant, uncluttered, furnished with dignity, simplicity, and good taste. The secretary to whom she was introduced was a plain, sensible girl, brisk, cordial, and capable-looking. She at once put Astra at her ease, gave her a desk, uncovered the typewriter she was to use, indicated where to find paper, carbon, and erasers, and then she left her. There was no
Then suddenly the lawyer arrived and they were plunged at once into business.
The lawyer was keen, with sharp eyes that read character, and he studied the two who waited upon him with interest. He asked a leading question now and then, looking from one to the other, and soon had the whole story before him, as if it had been a moving picture at which he was looking, registering every little detail.
It developed that the lawyer knew all about the property that had been purchased and had had instructions from Mr. Faber what to do in case he was able to get it. It appeared that Mr. Faber must have had some idea that his death might occur at any time, must have known he was in a critical condition when he started on his journey. The lawyer also knew the son, had arranged several business matters on his behalf before, and understood the situation thoroughly. There would be no difficulty in making him believe all that had happened, and the two soon discovered that their job was not to be half so difficult as they had feared.
“Now,” said the lawyer, gathering up the papers they had given him and arranging them in two piles, “can you two hold yourselves in readiness to appear in court anytime in the next two days? Perhaps three? I’ll do my best to arrange it sooner, if possible, and let you know by phone. And that doctor, and the nurse. Are they available? It will be necessary to have testimony from the doctor and the nurse as to the man’s condition.”
“I have a signed written statement from both of them,” said Cameron, handing him an envelope.
“That’s good,” said the lawyer, opening the envelope and glancing over the papers. “I see you have a legal mind.”
Cameron smiled.
“The doctor suggested it,” he said, “when I asked him if he would be available for testimony. He was on his way to New York for an operation and wasn’t sure he could get back tomorrow, though he’s going to try. He will let me know and be here as soon as possible. The nurse goes with him, and they will stop over to make an affidavit, if you can arrange for that.”
“You have his New York address?”
“Yes, it’s on the envelope.”
“Oh yes, I see. Well, I’ll see what I can do. I may want to talk to this doctor by telephone, in case I find it difficult to arrange. All right. Now can you give me two more copies of these papers, and one more copy of these?” He handed the two piles of papers over, and they rose. “You know it is best to keep this thing between ourselves.”
“Of course,” said Cameron. “Miss Everson says she is willing to do any typing connected with the matter.”
“That’s very nice then,” said the lawyer. “I’ll see what I can do with the judge this morning and will try and telephone your office, Mr. Cameron, around two o’clock. Will you be there then? Or perhaps half past one. And you can send those papers over to me as soon as they are copied.”
“Now,” said Cameron when they were down in the street again, “shall we go and snatch a bite, or would you rather wait until the copying is done?”
“Oh, I would rather get the copying ready first. We can eat any time, and it might make a difference somehow if he had it soon,” said Astra.
“That’s true, I suppose. Well then, I’ll take you over to my office. We have an extra machine there, and you will be undisturbed.”
He signaled a taxi, and they were soon at Cameron’s office.
The rooms looked as she would have expected Cameron’s office to look: pleasant, uncluttered, furnished with dignity, simplicity, and good taste. The secretary to whom she was introduced was a plain, sensible girl, brisk, cordial, and capable-looking. She at once put Astra at her ease, gave her a desk, uncovered the typewriter she was to use, indicated where to find paper, carbon, and erasers, and then she left her. There was no
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