Spruce
That is surprising news--no doubt about it. What good does that do?
Captain
Listen attentively. This is worth a good deal of reflection.
Spruce
I'm listening.
Captain (reading the letter)
"I await you, sir, to pay you the sixty thousand pounds which your
uncle has left you by his will, and to marry you to Miss Flavella
Hastings, of whom I have spoken to you several times in my letters.
The lady likes you very much, and her father is very determined on
this marriage. Don't waste time in getting to London. Your very humble
servant, Charles Torrington."
Spruce
Now, I begin to see--
Captain
Torrington is the name of the honest solicitor who worked for my
father. The date, the envelope, and the name, all confirm my
conclusion. My brother is coming to London in response to this letter,
and, just like me, put his trunk on the coach. And, of course, the
name and address caused your error. I conclude, therefor, not very
cleverly, that my brother is, perhaps, already in London.
Spruce
That's probably right. I am stupefied by the surprising effects of
chance. Necessity caused me to make a mistake, and our fortune will
spring from my stupidity. In a single day, we find a decrepit old
uncle buried--who leaves behind him a fortune, which in life, he
prevented you from attaining.
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