It is yours," I
said.
He stared at me thoughtfully.
"It is yours," I repeated, gaining courage. "I am an outsider, to
whom this house was left from motives of malice and revenge. Mr.
Jelnik, this thing must be set straight. We will show Jessamine's
confession and clear Richard's name. We will bring Freeman's diary
forward to prove the truth of our assertions. Then you can come into
your own."
"Ah!" said Mr. Jelnik, gently, "I see. Quite simple, and perfectly
feasible. And after I have taken Hynds House, what of you? What do
you get?"
"I get out," I said briefly. And a horrid qualm came over me. Leave
Hynds House, forever? Go away from Hyndsville, leaving this
friendlier, pleasanter, happier life behind?
"You are forgetting my training," I reminded him, trying to keep my
voice steady. "I can always do what I did before I came here. I--I'm
really an excellent private secretary, Mr. Jelnik."
"That," said Mr. Jelnik, smiling curiously, "may very well be. But I
think the stars in their courses fought to bring you here. And I
really do not at all relish the notion of your turning backward into
a private secretary, although there is, of course, the alternative
of The Author.
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