eleven o'clock
Fortunately for her the Rector and Sir Jasper 's lawyer and general business agent were at the time with the Doctor in his surgery , consulting on some Parish business and without a moment 's delay they proceeded to Vellenaux , the Rector riding with Mrs. Fraudhurst , whose appearance and conduct were well suited to the occasion . Life was pronounced extinct , and the cause of death was supposed to be a sudden attack of his old complaint , disease of the heart . The lawyer , in the presence of all , placed seals on the escritoire and doors of the study immediately after the body had been transferred to the bedchamber , and wrote to Ralph Coleman , as the only male relation of the late Baronet , acquainting him with what had occurred , and it was not long before that gentleman presented himself at Vellenaux . The morning prior to the funeral it pleased Mrs. Fraudhurst , on meeting Ralph Coleman in the long corridor , to request that worthy individual to grant her a private interview in the general library at eleven o'clock , precisely , the lawyer bowed in the affirmative and passed on . At the time appointed the widow , in very deep but fashionable mourning , entered the library by one door , and a few minutes later the new baronet presented himself at another . After closing it he advanced to the centre table and waited for the lady to announce the nature of her business with him . In a low , clear and cold , but perfectly steady voice she thus addressed him , `` Some two years since I informed you by letter of the existence of a will in which the late baronet , after paying a gratuity of five thousand pounds to Arthur Carlton , left Miss Effingham sole heiress .