“Very well, Mabel.  I was quite sure that you would agree with us, but at the same time I thought it was right before we refused the offer you should know that it was made.  Whatever our sentiments on the subject might be, we should not have been justified in refusing without your knowledge an offer that might, from a worldly point of view, be your interest to accept.”

“Why, papa,” Mabel said, “I would rather go out and weed turnips or watch sheep, like some of the girls in the village, than touch a penny of the Miss Penfolds’ money.”

A short time after this Mr. Tallboys’ clerk brought a letter into his private office.

“A lady asked me to give you this, sir.”  The solicitor opened it.  It contained only a card.

“Show the lady in.  How are you, madam?  I am glad to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance.  I suppose you are staying with Mr. Withers?”

“No, Mr. Tallboys, I am at the hotel here.  I only arrived an hour since by the packet from Dover.”

“Dear me.  I am afraid you have had a very unpleasant voyage.”

“It has not been pleasant,” Mrs. Conway said quietly.  “But I preferred it to the long journey by coach up to London, and down here again.  We were five days on the way, as the vessel put in at so many ports.  Still that was quite a minor question with me.  I wanted to see you and have a talk with you personally.  There is no saying into whose hands letters may fall, and one talk face to face does more good than a score of letters.”

Mr. Tallboys looked rather surprised, and the idea flashed across his mind that the only business Mrs. Conway could want to see him about must be some proposal for raising money upon the security of her annuity.

“I presume, Mr. Tallboys, from what I hear, that you are as thoroughly convinced as I am myself that this will of Mr. Penfold’s is in existence, and is hidden somewhere about the Hall?”

“Yes, I think so, Mrs. Conway.  That is, supposing it has not been destroyed.”

“Do you think it likely that it has been destroyed, Mr. Tallboys?”

“Well, that I cannot say,” the solicitor said gravely.  “I have, of course, thought much over this matter.  It is one that naturally vexed me much for several reasons.  In the first place, Mr. Withers and you yourself had been good enough to place the matter in my hands, and to authorize me to act for you, and it is always a sort of vexation to a professional man when his clients lose their cause, especially when he is convinced that they are in the right.  In the second place, I am much disturbed that the wishes of my late client, Mr. Penfold, should not have been carried out.  Thirdly, I feel now that I myself am somewhat to blame in the matter, in that I did not represent to Mr. Penfold the imprudence of his placing valuable papers in a place where, should anything happen to him suddenly, they might not be found.  Of course I could not have anticipated this hostile action on the part of the Miss Penfolds.  Still, I blame myself that I did not warn Mr. Penfold of the possibility of what has in fact happened taking place.  Lastly,” and he smiled, “I have a personal feeling in the matter.  I have lost a business that added somewhat considerably to my income.”