t of the visitor, and her eyes glanced involuntarily and, as it seemed to Betty, with something of uneasiness, at the si

speak, "I haven't come to call on either Mr. Gabriel or Mr

oked at each other. And in the elder woman's eyes there was still the same expression

rbury?" asked Betty, who was not slow

ith a shake of the head. "Nothing a

o the door of

uncle's nearest relation. Now I want to go through his papers and things.

oor-and Mrs. Carswell su

-where all Mr. Horbury's papers are. So is his bedroom. Mr. Joseph Chestermarke locked them all up l

low, and an obstinate loo

something to say to that, Mrs. Carswell. Ask

keeper sh

he answered. "It would be as

suggested Betty. "Aren't you? Or are you em

t was very evident that sh

s is my uncle's house, and you're his ser

per. "But the house belongs to-them! Mr. Horbury-so I understand-had the

l Mr. Joseph-or Mr. Gabriel-out, I shall walk into the bank at the front door, and demand to see th

looked out, saw Betty, and came into the hall. He offered his visitor no polite greeting, and for once he forgot his accustomed sneer

abruptly. "Wha

o his rooms," said Betty. "I am his nex

oseph. "We haven't exam

ou to examine them

ht!" retor

e belongings!"

nto it," declared Joseph. "Nobody's g

g-my uncle is dead, I've the right to examine anything he's left. I insist u

't know that you're his next-of-kin. We're not-legally-aware that you're his niece.

lamed hotly and

ncle of being a thief-and you dare not make any specified accusation against him! You charge him with stealing your securities-and you daren't tell the police what securities! I don't believe you've a security missing! Nobody believes it! The police don't believe it. Lord Ellersdeane doesn't believe it. Why, your own clerk, Mr. Ne

eft slightly ajar behind him, was pushed open a

o and see a solicitor," he

y, who was still stari

"Now you'd better go away.

ms before her self-possession had come back to her. And she was aware then that a gentleman, who had jus

ou, Lord Ellersdeane?-I beg y

tched you come across from the Ban

e way upstairs and closed her door on herself and her visitor. "No n

k his head di

und Ellersdeane-practically all night. We've made inquiries at each of the neighbouring

arl of the meeting with the tinker, and of Mrs. Pratt's account of the mysterious stranger, and of what Starmidg

bank itself-from the Chest

as my uncle's nearest relation, with a simple request to see his papers and things-a very natural de

" exclaimed the Earl. "R

l-who called me a young woman-told me to go and see a solicitor, which, of course,"

ndows, and stood for a moment or two s

he Chestermarkes' part? Why didn't they tell the police what securities are missing? Why don't t

rs. Carswell says

lecting old oak, and I know where he bought most of his possessions. I can't make the behaviour of these people out at all-and I'm getting more and more uneasy about the whole thing, Miss Fosdyke-as I'm sure yo

and turned from the windo

e bank," he observed. "I think he's coming her

le was his guardian. Is he co

ied the Earl. "Perhap

with a smile, and glanced half-whimsically, half as if he had que

it, Wallie? Have these two precio

and an old jacket on the table. "That's my old working coat," he went on, with a

y from the window, and Betty i

?" she exclaim

notice," laughed Neale, slapping his

y?" ask

ok his he

"You did it! As soon as you'd gone, they had me in, told me that it was contrary to their principles to retain servants who

Neale," observed the Earl, looking keenly at

I meant to leave Chestermarke's. If it hadn't been for Mr. Horbury, I should have left ages ago. I hate banking! I hated the life. And-I d

ager in London. The brewery wants one, badly. You shall have a ha

banks. Don't you be too rash, Betty-I'm not exactly cut out for commercialism. Not," he added reflectively,

ung people with something of amused intere

ale!" h

" respond

ion about your late prin

head slowly an

know," he

ermission to examine her uncle's belongings?" continued t

ut I'm not surprised. Nothing that tho

sked the Earl. "Come!-you're no longer in their em

vity, "I think the police ought to make a thorough examination o

picked up

the morning!" he said. "Come