A GREAT WINDFALL 139 



should become his, with such encumbrances as 

 existed at the time of purchase, on the vendor's 

 entering into possession of the estate. In less than 

 a year afterwards the aged peer died, and the eldest 

 son succeeded to the property. The second son 

 died from the result of an accident, leaving no chil- 

 dren ; shordy after the eldest son passed away, 

 leaving the third, whose interests X. had purchased, 

 the unexpected heir to a title with scarcely a shilling 

 to support it. He was married, with a son to 

 succeed him. This was a terrible position for him 

 to be placed in. X. found himself in possession of 

 an income oi fifty-six thousand pounds per annum. 

 He was of a most generous and impulsive nature, 

 and when the trustees of the estate sought an 

 interview — which was readily granted — and laid 

 the sad case before him, stating that here was a 

 peer of ancient lineage, representing an earldom, 

 totally without any income to sustain his position, 

 he replied that he saw the sad and deplorable 

 position in which the earl was placed, and offered 

 that if they would repay him the original advance, 

 with the legal expenses, and interest at 5 per cent, 

 from the time of purchase, a sum amounting to 

 nearly 18,000/., he would give up to them half the 

 income. He therefore sacrificed 28,000/. per annum, 

 so as to enable the peer to live and maintain his 

 position. The only condition he made was that the 

 earl should promote in every possible way the 

 insurance of his life, so as to enable X. to retain his 

 income in the event of insurer's death. 



