“That I quite admit.  Still we know there is the hiding-place, and it is morally certain that that hiding-place is opened or approached by the touching of some secret spring.  It is not by pulling down wainscoting or by pulling up floors, or by force used in any way, that it is to be found.  Mr. Penfold, it would seem, used it habitually as a depository for papers of value.  He certainly, therefore, had not to break down or to pull up anything.  He opened it as he would open any other cabinet or cupboard, by means of a key or by touching a spring.  You agree with me so far, Mr. Tallboys?”

“Certainly, Mrs. Conway.  There can be no doubt in my mind that this hiding-place, whether a chamber or a small closet, is opened in the way you speak of.”

“Very well then; all that has to be looked for is a spring.  No force is requisite; all that is to be done is to find the spring.”

“Yes, but how is it to be found?  I believe we tried every square foot of the building.”

“I have no doubt you did, but it will be necessary to try every square inch, I will not say of the whole building, but of certain rooms and passages.  I think we may assume that it is not in the upper rooms or servants’ quarters.  Such a hiding-place would be contrived where it could be used by the owners of the house without observation from their dependants, and would therefore be either in the drawing-room, dining-room, the principal bed-chambers, or the passages, corridors, or stairs between or adjoining these.”

“I quite follow you in your reasoning, Mrs. Conway, and agree with you.  Doubtless, the place is so situated as to be what I may call handy to the owners of the Hall, but I still do not see how you are going to set about finding it.”

“I am going to set about it by going to live at the Hall.”

“Going to live at the Hall, Mrs. Conway!  But how is that possible under the circumstances?  You are, I should say, the last person whom the Miss Penfolds would at present invite to take up her residence there.”

“I agree with you, if they had any idea of my identity; but that is just what I intend they shall not have.  My plan is to go there in the capacity of a servant.  Once there I shall examine, as I say, every square inch of the rooms and places where this hiding-place is likely to exist.  Every knob, knot, or inequality of any kind in the wood-work and stone-work shall be pressed, pulled, and twisted, until I find it.  I am aware that the task may occupy months or even years, for, of course, my opportunities will be limited.  Still, whether months or years, I intend to undertake it and to carry it through, if my life is spared until I have had time thoroughly and completely to carry it out.”

Mr. Tallboys was silent from sheer astonishment.

“Do you realty mean that you think of going there as a servant, Mrs. Conway?”