The Forsyte Saga Volume 2(92)

‘The interest on this fifty thousand,’ said Soames, ‘is Fleur’s until her eldest child, if it’s a boy, attains the age of twenty-one, when the capital becomes his absolutely. If it’s a girl, Fleur retains half the income for life, the rest of the income becomes payable to the girl when she attains the age of twenty-one or marries, and the capital of that half goes to her child or children lawfully begotten, at majority or marriage, in equal shares. The other half of the capital falls into Fleur’s estate, and is disposable by her will, or follows the laws of intestacy.’

‘You make it wonderfully clear,’ said Michael.

‘Wait!’ said Soames. ‘If Fleur has no children –’

Michael started.

‘Anything is possible,’ said Soames gravely, ‘and my experience is that the contingencies not provided for are those which happen. In such a case the income of the whole is hers for life, and the capital hers at death to do as she likes with. Failing that, it goes to the next of kin. There are provisions against anticipation and so forth.’

‘Ought she to make a fresh will?’ asked Michael, conscious of sweat on his forehead.

‘Not unless she likes. Her present will covers it.’

‘Have I to do anything?’

‘No. I wanted you to understand the purport before I sign; that’s all. Give me the deed, Gradman, and get Wickson in, will you?’

Michael saw the old chap produce from a drawer a fine piece of parchment covered with copperplate writing and seals, look at it lovingly, and place it before Soames. When he had left the room, Soames said in a low voice:

‘This meeting on Tuesday – I can’t tell! But, whatever happens, so far as I can see, this ought to stand.’

‘It’s awfully good of you, sir.’

Soames nodded, testing a pen.

‘I’m afraid I’ve got wrong with your old clerk,’ said Michael; ‘I like the look of him frightfully, but I accidentally compared him to a bookmaker.’

Soames smiled. ‘Gradman,’ he said, ‘is a “character”. There aren’t many, nowadays.’

Michael was wondering: Could one be a ‘character’ under the age of sixty? – when the ‘character’ returned, with a pale man in dark clothes.

Lifting his nose sideways, Soames said at once:

‘This is a post-nuptial settlement on my daughter. I deliver this as my act and deed.’

He wrote his name, and got up.

The pale person and Gradman wrote theirs, and the former left the room. There was a silence as of repletion.

‘Do you want me any more?’ asked Michael,

‘Yes. I want you to see me deposit it at the bank with the marriage settlement. Shan’t come back, Gradman!’

‘Good-bye, Mr Gradman.’

Michael heard the old fellow mutter through his beard half buried in a drawer to which he was returning the draft, and followed Soames out.

‘Here’s where I used to be,’ said Soames as they went along the Poultry; ‘and my father before me.’

‘More genial, perhaps,’ said Michael.

‘The trustees are meeting us at the bank; you remember them?’

‘Cousins of Fleur’s, weren’t they, sir?’

‘Second cousins; young Roger’s eldest, and young Nicholas’. I chose them youngish. Very young Roger was wounded in the war – he does nothing. Very young Nicholas is at the Bar.’

Michael’s ears stood up. ‘What about the next lot, sir? Very, very young Roger would be almost insulting, wouldn’t it?’

‘There won’t be one,’ said Soames, ‘with taxation where it is. He can’t afford it; he’s a steady chap. What are you going to call your boy, if it is one?’

‘We think Christopher, because of St Paul’s and Columbus. Fleur wants him solid, and I want him inquiring.’

‘H’m. And if it’s a girl?’

‘Oh! – if it’s a girl – Anne.’

‘Yes,’ said Soames: ‘very neat. Here they are!’

They had reached the bank, and in the entrance Michael saw two Forsytes between thirty and forty, whose chinny faces he dimly remembered. Escorted by a man with bright buttons down his front, they all went to a room, where a man without buttons produced a japanned box. One of the Forsytes opened it with a key; Soames muttered an incantation, and deposited the deed. When he and the chinnier Forsyte had exchanged a few remarks with the manager on the question of the bank rate, they all went back to the lobby and parted with the words: ‘Well, good-bye.’

‘Now,’ said Soames, in the din and hustle of the street, ‘he’s provided for, so far as I can see. When exactly do you expect it?’