"Upon my word!" cried one of the Directors, "this is a most wonderful
letter. I beg your pardon. Pray go on."
"We began very well. We buried our man under the name of Lord Harry
Norland, as I have said. The difficulty then arose as to the
presentation of the claim. It was most desirable that the claim should
be made by the person who would most naturally be the deceased's heir
and after proving his will and by his own solicitor.
"I am married. I have no children. I have not lived on good terms with
my family. It was, therefore, quite reasonable to expect that I should
leave my wife sole heir and executrix. It was also natural that she
should go to my solicitors--the family solicitors--and ask them to
manage her affairs.
"With this object I confessed to my wife as much of the conspiracy as
was necessary. Like many women, she possesses, in addition to every
virtue, a blessed devotion to her husband. Where he is concerned she is
easily led even from the paths of honour. I practised on that devotion;
I used all the arguments and persuasions based on that devotion
necessary to convert a woman of honour into the accomplice of a
conspiracy. In brief, I made my wife join in the fraud. She consented
to act for me, persuaded that if she did not the conspiracy would be
discovered. The business has, therefore been carried through with the
greatest success. You have paid the claim in full without question. For
me there was left the very comfortable provision of 15,000 pounds, with
the consciousness of a daring and successful swindle. Unfortunately, my
wife has now discovered that her conscience will give her no peace or
rest until full restitution of the money has been made. She has
informed me of her intention to send back without delay that part of it
which lies at her bank in her own name--that is to say, five thousand
pounds.
"I do not suppose that, as gentlemen, you would be disposed to subject
a woman who thus desires to repair a wrong to the degradation of a
public prosecution. No useful end, in fact, will be served in so doing.
It is, in fact, in the conviction that you will take no proceedings
that I write this letter.
"Further, as I wish my wife's scruples of conscience to be completely
set at rest, I am prepared, on an assurance that the matter will be
allowed to drop, to forward to you the remainder of the money, less two
thousand pounds, which I have reason to believe will be sent to you in
course of time. I am also prepared to instruct my wife, as my heir, in
the event of my death to make no claim on the Company; and I have
requested my solicitor to cease paying the annual premium. The Company
will, therefore, be the gainers of the whole premiums which have been
paid--namely, 300 pounds a year for ten years: that is to say, 3,000
pounds.