He has no son, and my father was his next brother.

My father died, two years ago; and the result is that, to my astonishment, I found that I was next heir to the title.

They wanted me to leave the army, when my regiment was ordered out to India; but of course I was not going to do that, for my aunt may die, and my uncle marry again and have children.

Besides, I was not going to leave, anyhow, just as the regiment was ordered abroad, and might see service.
"However, there was a great hunting by the lawyers in the genealogical tree; and I know it was decided that, in case anything happened to me, your father would have been the next heir, had he been alive.

I don't know whether any further inquiries were made, or whether they ever ascertained that he had married.