"But the collections!" said Tatham, remembering them almost with relief,
speaking in his mother's ear; "what about the collections?"
"We come now to the second part of the deed of gift," said the silvery
voice of the lawyer. And again the astounded circle set itself to listen.
"The collections of works of art now contained in Threlfall Tower, I
also convey in full property and immediate possession to the said Felicia
Melrose, but on the following conditions:
"Threlfall Tower, or such portions of it as may be necessary, to be
maintained permanently as a museum in which to house the said collection:
a proper museum staff to be appointed; a sum of money, to be agreed upon
between Claude Faversham and Felicia Melrose, to be set aside for the
maintenance of the building, the expenses of installation, and the
endowment of the staff; and a set of rooms in the west wing to be
appropriated to the private residence of a curator, who is to be
appointed, after the first curatorship, by--"
Certain public officials were named, and a few other stipulations made.
Then with a couple of legal phrases and a witnessed signature, the second
sheet came to an end.
There was a silence that could be heard. In the midst of it Faversham
rose. He was agitated and a little incoherent.
"The rest of what has to be said is not a formal matter. If Miss
Melrose, or her guardians, choose to make me the first Curator of the
Threlfall Tower Museum, I am willing to accept that office at their
hands, and--after, perhaps, a year--I should like to occupy the rooms
I have mentioned in the west wing--with the lady who has now promised to
be my wife.
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