"I see," Ivo said, "that if I do not marry Miss Quarrie by noon, your wife inherits forty thousand pounds and the engine at Lode End."
Sir Digby's colour deepened a shade. "My wife's inheritance is my wife's affair. I speak as her uncle's nearest friend and as a magistrate of this county. That codicil will not stand. I shall enter a caveat in the Prerogative Court the moment the will is offered for probate, and I have no doubt at all of the issue. Undue influence, sir. Weakness of mind. I have seen him these twelve months forget his own steward's name."
"He forgot your name," said Rosamund Quarrie. "Twice. It is not the same thing."
It was the first time she had spoken since the church. Her voice was low and quite steady, and it went through the little room like a draught. Sir Digby turned toward her as if a chair had addressed him.
"Madam, you will have your say before the proper tribunal—"
"I am having it now. You have called me an adventuress in the Mercury, Sir Digby, through your friend who writes the county paragraphs, and you have called the Duke a dotard to anyone who would listen, and he heard of it, and he laughed. I do not laugh as easily." She looked at Ivo. "I will not argue the codicil with Sir Digby. It will be argued in a court, I suppose, for years, and he will spend a great deal of money, and so shall I. I would like a word with His Grace. Alone. If Mr. Furnival will let us have the vestry for ten minutes."
"Out of the question," said Sir Digby.
"It is not your vestry," said Ivo, and surprised himself.
There was a short pause. Then Mr. Furnival, with the courage of the very mild, opened the door into the chancel and stood beside it, and after a moment Cordelia got up off the stool and went out, and Mr. Lusk took up his hat and followed her, and Sir Digby Rendell, having looked from the new Duke to the woman in black and back again, said, "Ten minutes, Ellerholt. I'll wait. For your own sake I hope you'll remember who your friends are," and went.
The door shut. They were alone with the iron-bound chest and the surplices and the cold.
III.