“Poor Simon Cloud was inconsolable. In addition, soon another one of his brothers died. The brother's children found themselves in very difficult circumstances. Simon Cloud generously gave them his home. And so two girls settled with him - Grace and Mary - and a young man - George. The old man was kind to his brother's children, but never showed the same love and affection for them as he did for his little granddaughter. There was a job for George at a nearby bank. Grace married a young, capable chemist named Philip Garrod. Mary was an inconspicuous, reserved girl who stayed in the house and took care of her uncle. I suppose she loved him in her usual reserved way. Apparently, everything was going peacefully. I note that after the death of little Christobel, Simon Cloud came to me and instructed me to draw up a new will. According to this will, his fortune, very significant, was divided between his nephew and nieces: a third to each...”