Blind Love

At a Board Meeting of the Royal Unicorn Life Insurance Company,

specially convened, the Chairman had to make a communication of a very

remarkable character.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I call upon the Secretary, without further

introduction, to read a letter, to consider which you are called

together this day."

"The letter," the Secretary began, "is simply headed 'Paris,' dated two

days ago."

"Only two days ago," said the Chairman, mysteriously. "But, of course,

that means nothing. There has been plenty of time for him to change his

residence. I dare say he may be in London at our very elbow. Go on, if

you please."

"Gentlemen"--the Secretary proceeded to read the letter. "It is now

three months since a claim was sent in to you by the firm of Erskine,

Mansfield, Denham & Co., solicitors of Lincoln's Inn Fields, for the

sum of 15,000 pounds due to the heirs of Lord Harry Norland in respect

of an insurance effected upon his life."

"The claim, gentlemen," said the Chairman, "was duly acknowledged and

paid some weeks later. It was a heavy loss; but these things will

occur, and there seemed no reason to doubt the facts alleged, or to

dispute the claim."

"I write this letter," the Secretary continued reading, "in order to

inform you that the claim was fraudulent, inasmuch as Lord Harry

Norland was at the time, and is still, actually living."

Fraudulent! The man still living! At this point there was a sudden

awakening. Everybody sat up and listened with all their ears.

"I may tell you, gentlemen," the Chairman explained, "that the writer

of this remarkable letter is none other than Lord Harry Norland

himself. We will now proceed without further interruption."

"In conjunction with another person, I devised and carried out

successfully a plan by which I was enabled to touch at once, and

without the disagreeable necessity of previously expiring and being

buried, the whole of the money for which I was insured. Other people

have attempted the same design, I believe, but the thing has hitherto

been managed clumsily. In my own case, it has been managed with great

dexterity and artistic skill. As you will naturally be curious on a

subject which interests you so closely I have no objection to reveal

the method. It is not enough to write to your office and state that a

certain person is dead. One must be prepared with proofs of the death

should any doubt arise. No proof of death is quite satisfactory without

evidence as to the disposal of the dead body. With that object, we

procured from the Hotel Dieu a patient apparently in an advanced state

of consumption. My accomplice, being a medical man, highly recommended,

was able to do this without suspicion. We nursed him ostentatiously.

During the latter part of the illness he was nursed under the name of

Lord Harry Norland. He died. His name was entered in the official

register as Lord Harry Norland. He was buried in the cemetery at

Auteuil, near Paris, as Lord Harry Norland. A headstone marks his

grave, which is purchased in perpetuity. The doctor certified the cause

of his death, and communicated the fact to the deceased's brother, Lord

Malven, and to the deceased's solicitors. The death was also announced

to the papers. The difficulties attendant on the successful conduct of

the business are so great that you need not fear a repetition. Nobody,

in order to assist a fraud, will consent to die and lend his own body.

It is seldom, indeed, that a sick man can be found--a foreigner and

friendless--whose death will cause no curiosity and raise no questions.

Add to this, it is extremely difficult, as I have now experienced, to

find the necessary assistance without encountering the objections of

conscience."