His lordship was
insured in the Royal Unicorn Life Insurance Company for the sum
of 15,000 pounds. We must not expect to have this large claim satisfied
quite immediately. Perhaps the office will take three months to settle.
But, as I said before, your ladyship can draw upon us."
"You are certain that the Company will pay?"
"Assuredly. Why not? They must pay."
"Oh! I thought that perhaps so large a sum--"
"My dear Madam"--the man who administered so much real and personal
property smiled--"fifteen thousand pounds is not what we call a very
large sum. Why, if an Insurance Company refused to pay a lawful claim
it would cut its own throat--absolutely. Its very existence depends
upon its meeting all just and lawful claims. The death being proved it
remains for the Company to pay the insurance into the hands of the
person entitled to receive it. That is, in this case, to me, acting for
you."
"Yes--I see--but I thought that, perhaps, my husband having died abroad
there might be difficulty--"
There might, if he had died in Central Africa. But he died in a suburb
of Paris, under French law, which, in such matters, is even more
careful and exacting than our own. We have the official papers, and the
doctor's certificate.
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