"A will is a will, and must be acted upon.

How on earth has that codicil got spirited away ?" How indeed! But for the plain fact, so positive and palpable before them, of the codicil's absence, they would have declared the loss to be an impossibility.

Upstairs and down, the house was vainly searched for it; and the conclusion was at length unwillingly come to that Mr.Verner had repented of his bequest, had taken the codicil out of the desk, and burned it.

The suggestion came from Mr.Bitterworth; and Mrs.Tynn acknowledged that it was just possible Mr.Verner's strength would allow him to accomplish so much, while her back was turned.

And yet, how reconcile this with his dying charges to Lionel, touching the management of the estate?
The broad fact that there was the will, and that alone to act upon, untempered by a codicil, shone out all too clearly.