"I wish to ask you a plain question," replied Mr. Halfpenny. "Do you
accept this will, and are you going to act on your cousin's behalf? I
want your plain answer."

Barthorpe hesitated a moment before replying. Then he made as if to open
the door.

"I decline to discuss the matter of the alleged will," he answered. "I
decline--especially," he continued, lifting a finger and pointing at Mr.
Tertius, "especially in the presence of that man!"

"Barthorpe!" exclaimed Peggie, flushing at the malevolence of the tone
and gesture. "How dare you! In my house----"

Barthorpe suddenly laughed. Once again he turned to the door--and this
time he opened it.

"Just so--just so!" he said. "Your house, my dear cousin--according to
the alleged will."

"Which will be proved, sir," snapped out Mr. Halfpenny. "As you refuse,
or seem to do so, I shall act for your cousin--at once."

Barthorpe opened the door wide, and as he crossed the threshold, turned
and gave Mr. Halfpenny a swift glance.

"Act!" he said. "Act!--if you can!"

Then he walked out and shut the door behind him, and Mr. Halfpenny
turned to the others.

"The will must be proved at once," he said decisively. "Alleged--you all
heard him say alleged! That looks as if--um! My dear Tertius, you have
no doubt whatever about the proper and valid execution of this important
document--now in my safe. None?"

"How can I have any doubt about what I actually saw?" replied Mr.
Tertius. "I can't have any doubt, Halfpenny! I saw Jacob sign it; I
signed it myself; I saw young Burchill sign it; we all three saw each
other sign. What more can one want?"

"I must see this Mr. Burchill," remarked Mr. Halfpenny. "I must see him
at once. Unfortunately, he left no address at the place we called at. He
will have to be discovered."

Peggie coloured slightly as she turned to Mr. Halfpenny.

"Is it really necessary to see Mr. Burchill personally?" she asked with
a palpable nervousness which struck Selwood strangely. "Must he be
found?"

"Absolutely necessary, my dear," replied Mr. Halfpenny. "He must be
found, and at once."

Mr. Tertius uttered an exclamation of annoyance.

"Dear, dear!" he said. "I noticed the young man at the cemetery just
now--I ought really to have pointed him out to you--most forgetful of
me!"

"I have Mr. Burchill's address," said Peggie, with an effort. "He left
his card here on the day of my uncle's death--the address is on it. And
I put it in this dra