"Plantagenet,"
she said the next morning, "what are you going to do about the Duke's
legacy to Marie Goesler?"
"I can do nothing. She must take the things, of course."
"She won't."
"Then the jewels must remain packed up. I suppose they'll be sold at
last for the legacy duty, and, when that's paid, the balance will
belong to her."
"But what about the money?"
"Of course it belongs to her."
"Couldn't you give it to that girl who was here last night?"
"Give it to a girl!"
"Yes;--to your cousin. She's as poor as Job, and can't get married
because she hasn't got any money. It's quite true; and I must say
that if the Duke had looked after his own relations instead of
leaving money to people who don't want it and won't have it, it would
have been much better. Why shouldn't Adelaide Palliser have it?"
"How on earth should I give Adelaide Palliser what doesn't belong to
me? If you choose to make her a present, you can, but such a sum as
that would, I should say, be out of the question."
The Duchess had achieved quite as much as she had anticipated.
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