"It was most unfortunate. And the fact that his lordship was not on
speaking terms with the members of his own family--pray understand that
I am not expressing any opinion on the case--but this fact seems to
render his end more unhappy."
"He had Dr. Vimpany," said Iris, in a tone which suggested to the
lawyer jealousy or dislike of the doctor.
"Well," he said, "it remains to prove the will and to make our claims
against the Insurance Office. I have the policy here. His lordship was
insured in the Royal Unicorn Life Insurance Company for the sum
of 15,000 pounds. We must not expect to have this large claim satisfied
quite immediately. Perhaps the office will take three months to settle.
But, as I said before, your ladyship can draw upon us."
"You are certain that the Company will pay?"
"Assuredly. Why not? They must pay."
"Oh! I thought that perhaps so large a sum--"
"My dear Madam"--the man who administered so much real and personal
property smiled--"fifteen thousand pounds is not what we call a very
large sum. Why, if an Insurance Company refused to pay a lawful claim
it would cut its own throat--absolutely. Its very existence depends
upon its meeting all just and lawful claims. The death being proved it
remains for the Company to pay the insurance into the hands of the
person entitled to receive it. That is, in this case, to me, acting for
you."
"Yes--I see--but I thought that, perhaps, my husband having died abroad
there might be difficulty--"
"There might, if he had died in Central Africa. But he died in a suburb
of Paris, under French law, which, in such matters, is even more
careful and exacting than our own. We have the official papers, and the
doctor's certificate. We have, besides, a photograph of the unfortunate
gentleman lying on his death-bed--this was well thought of: it is an
admirable likeness--the sun cannot lie--we have also a photograph of
the newly erected tombstone. Doubt? Dear me, Madam, they could no more
raise a doubt as to your husband's death than if he were buried in the
family vault. If anything should remove any ground for doubt, it is the
fact that the only person who benefits by his death is yourself. If, on
the other hand, he had been in the hands of persons who had reason to
wish for his death, there might have been suspicions of foul play,
which would have been matter for the police--but not for an insurance
company."