Page 1099 - vanity-fair

for which his life was insured, and which were left equal-
ly between his beloved ‘sister Amelia, wife of, &c., and his
friend and invaluable attendant during sickness, Rebecca,
wife of Lieutenant-Colonel Rawdon Crawley, C.B.,’ who was
appointed administratrix.
The solicitor of the insurance company swore it was the
blackest case that ever had come before him, talked of send-
ing a commission to Aix to examine into the death, and the
Company refused payment of the policy. But Mrs., or Lady
Crawley, as she styled herself, came to town at once (attend-
ed with her solicitors, Messrs. Burke, Thurtell, and Hayes,
of Thavies Inn) and dared the Company to refuse the pay-
ment. They invited examination, they declared that she was
the object of an infamous conspiracy, which had been pur-
suing her all through life, and triumphed finally. The money
was paid, and her character established, but Colonel Dob-
bin sent back his share of the legacy to the insurance office
and rigidly declined to hold any communication with Re-
becca.
She never was Lady Crawley, though she continued so to
call herself. His Excellency Colonel Rawdon Crawley died
of yellow fever at Coventry Island, most deeply beloved and
deplored, and six weeks before the demise of his brother, Sir
Pitt. The estate consequently devolved upon the present Sir
Rawdon Crawley, Bart.
He, too, has declined to see his mother, to whom he
makes a liberal allowance, and who, besides, appears to be
very wealthy. The Baronet lives entirely at Queen’s Craw-
ley, with Lady Jane and her daughter, whilst Rebecca, Lady

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