The Bequest is a short story by W. W. Jacobs. It tells the story of a man named John Minns, who is the sole beneficiary of a bequest from his late uncle, a wealthy man who had no other family. John is excited to receive the bequest, but is surprised to find out that it is not money, but rather a box of old books. He is disappointed, but decides to keep the books anyway. One night, John is reading one of the books when he discovers a hidden compartment containing a large sum of money. He is ecstatic, and decides to use the money to buy a house and start a new life. However, John soon discovers that the money is not his to keep. It turns out that the books were part of a larger bequest, and the money was meant to be given to a charity. John is forced to return the money, but is still grateful for the experience, as it has taught him a valuable lesson about the importance of doing the right thing.
By W. W. Jacobs · First published 1943 · Genre: Fiction, Humor, Mystery