your own in this house, I believe--at any rate,
until things are settled--and it will be best if you keep to them."

Mr. Tertius, who had listened to this unmoved, turned to Peggie.

"Do you wish me to go away?" he asked quietly.

Barthorpe turned on him with an angry scowl.

"It's not a question of what Miss Wynne wishes, but of what I order;" he
burst out. "If you've any sense of fitness, you'll know that until my
uncle's will is found and his wishes ascertained I'm master here, Mr.
Tertius, and----"

"You're not my master, Barthorpe," exclaimed Peggie, with a sudden flash
of spirit. "I know what my uncle's wishes were as regards Mr. Tertius,
and I intend to respect them. I've always been mistress of this house
since my uncle brought me to it, and I intend to be until I find I've no
right to be. Mr. Tertius, you'll please to stop where you are!"

"I intend to," said Mr. Tertius, calmly. "I never had any other
intention. Mr. Barthorpe Herapath, I believe, will hardly use force to
compel me to leave the room."

Barthorpe bit his lips as he glanced from one to the other.

"Oh!" he said. "So that's how things are? Very good, Mr. Tertius. No, I
shan't use physical force. But mind I don't use a little moral force--a
slight modicum of that would be enough for you, I'm thinking!"

"Do I understand that you are using threatening language to me?" asked
Mr. Tertius, mildly.

Barthorpe sneered, and turned to Selwood.

"We'll open this safe now," he said. "You know which is the key, I
suppose," he went on, glaring at Peggie, who had retreated to the
hearthrug and was evidently considerably put out by her cousin's
behaviour. "I suppose you never heard my uncle mention a will? We've
searched his private safe at the office and there's nothing there.
Personally, I don't believe he ever made a will--I never heard of it.
And I think he'd have told me if--"

Mr. Tertius broke in upon Barthorpe's opinions with a dry cough.

"It may save some unnecessary trouble if I speak at this juncture," he
said. "There is a will."

Barthorpe's ruddy cheeks paled in spite of his determined effort to
appear unconcerned. He twisted round on Mr. Tertius with a startled eye
and twitching lips.

"You--you say there is a will!" he exclaimed. "You say--what do you know
about it?"

"When it was made, where it was made, where it now is," answered Mr.
Tertius.

"Where it now is!" repeated Barthorpe. "Where it now--is! And where is
it, I sho