noon
Her punishment will surely come , but not through me ; she knew not altogether what she did and thus unknowing , she only stole . Now we must wait . '' He went away on the word , leaving me with a new mystery to think of , a new puzzle to grapple with . The forenoon was a dreary time , but at noon the solicitor came : Mr. Marquand , of Wholeman , Sons , Marquand & Lidderdale . He was very genial and very appreciative of what we had done , and took off our hands all cares as to details . During lunch he told us that Mrs. Westenra had for some time expected sudden death from her heart , and had put her affairs in absolute order ; he informed us that , with the exception of a certain entailed property of Lucy 's father 's which now , in default of direct issue , went back to a distant branch of the family , the whole estate , real and personal , was left absolutely to Arthur Holmwood . When he had told us so much he went on : -- `` Frankly we did our best to prevent such a testamentary disposition , and pointed out certain contingencies that might leave her daughter either penniless or not so free as she should be to act regarding a matrimonial alliance .