But the whole thing was an odd business, and when the contents of his will became current coin on Forsyte ’Change, a shiver had gone round the clan. Out of his estate (£145,304 gross, with liabilities £35 7

s. 4 d. ) he had actually left £15,000 to “whomever do you think, my dear? To Irene !” that runaway wife of his nephew Soames; Irene, a woman who had almost disgraced the family, and⁠—still more amazing⁠—was to him no blood relation. Not out and out, of course; only a life interest⁠—only the income from it! Still, there it was; and old Jolyon’s claim to be the perfect Forsyte was ended once for all. That, then, was the first reason why the burial of Susan Hayman⁠—at Woking⁠—made little stir.