ding up
for his rights in domestic matters, he was more timid than a child. He
was subject to his wife while she lived, and when she was gone, to her
relatives, who are all of a dominating character. When he finally
made up his mind to do us justice and eliminate Carlos, he went out of
town--I wish I could remember where--and had this will drawn up by a
stranger, whose name I cannot recall."

Her shaking tones, her nervous manner betrayed a weakness equalling, if
not surpassing, that of the brother who dared in secret what he had not
strength to acknowledge openly, and it was with some hesitation Violet
prepared to ask those definite questions which would elucidate the cause
and manner of a loss seemingly so important. She dreaded to hear some
commonplace tale of inexcusable carelessness. Something subtler than
this--the presence of some unsuspected agency opposed to young Clement's
interest; some partisan of Carlos; some secret undermining force in
a house full of servants and dependants, seemed necessary for the
development of so ordinary a situation into a drama justifying the
exercise of her special powers.

"I think I understand now your exact position in the house, as well as
the value of the paper which you say you have lost. The next thing for
me to hear is how you came to have charge of this paper, and under what
circumstances you were led to mislay it. Do you not feel quite ready to
tell me?"

"Is--is that necessary?" Mrs. Quintard faltered.

"Very," replied Violet, watching her curiously.

"I didn't expect--that is, I hoped you would be able to point out, by
some power we cannot of course explain, just the spot where the paper
lies, without having to tell all that. Some people can, you know."

"Ah, I understand. You regarded me as unfit for practical work, and so
credited me with occult powers. But that is where you made a mistake,
Mrs. Quintard; I'm nothing if not practical. And let me add, that I'm as
secret as the grave concerning what my clients tell me. If I am to be of
any help to you, I must be made acquainted with every fact involved
in the loss of this valuable paper. Relate the whole circumstance or
dismiss me from the case. You can have done nothing more foolish or
wrong than many--"

"Oh, don't say things like that!" broke in the poor woman in a tone of
great indignation. "I have done nothing anyone could call either foolish
or wicked. I am simply very unfortunate, and being sensitive--But