But you know that father died without making a will, and that--rich as he was--his actual assets were far less than we had reason to expect.

Kitty, who felt the disappointment as keenly as her friend, I believe would have divided her own share with her.

It's odd, by the way, that father could have been so deceived in the amount of his capital, or how he got rid of his money in a way that we knew nothing of.

Do you know, Sylvester, I've sometimes suspected"-- "What ?" said Uncle Sylvester suddenly.
The bored languor of his face had abruptly vanished.

Every muscle was alert; his gray eyes glittered.
"That he advanced money to Du Page, who lost it, or that they speculated together," returned Gabriel, who, following Uncle Sylvester's voice only, had not noticed the change of expression.
"That would seem to be a weakness of the Lane family," said Uncle Sylvester grimly, with a return of his former carelessness.