why did you tell--why did you say it was money?'

'I can't explain that,' she answered, her head bowed. 'I took off the
ring thoughtlessly; it is rather loose; my finger is thinner than it
used to be.'

On the track of cunning Mutimer's mind was keen enough; only amid the
complexities of such motives as sway a pure heart in trouble was he
quite at a loss. This confession of untruthfulness might on the face
of it have spoken in Adela's favour; but his very understanding of that
made him seek for subtle treachery. She saw he suspected her; was it
not good policy to seem perfectly frank, even if such frankness for the
moment gave a strengthening to suspicion? What devilish ingenuity might
after all be concealed in this woman, whom he had taken for simplicity
itself!

The first bell for luncheon disturbed his reflections.

'Please sit down,' he said, pointing to the chair. 'We can't end our
talk just yet.'

She obeyed him, glad again to rest her trembling limbs.

'If you suspect it to be a forgery,' she said, when she had waited in
vain for him to speak further, 'the best way of deciding is to go at
once to Mr. Yottle. He will remember; it was he drew up the will.'

He flashed a glance at her.

'I'm perfectly aware of that. If this is forged, the lawyer has of
course given his help. He would be glad to see me.'

Again the suspicion was genuine. Mutimer felt himself hedged in; every
avenue of escape to which his thoughts turned was closed in advance.
There was no one he would not now have suspected. The full meaning of
his position was growing upon him; it made a ferment in his mind.

'Mr. Yottle!' Adela exclaimed in astonishment. 'You think it possible
that he--Oh, that is folly!'

Yes, it was folly; her voice assured him of it, proclaiming at the same
time the folly of his whole doubt. It was falling to pieces, and, as it
fell, disclosing the image of his fate, inexorable, inconceivable.

He stood for more than five minutes in silence. Then he drew a little
nearer to her, and asked in an unsteady voice:

'Are you glad of this?'

'Glad of it?' she repeated under her breath.

'Yes; shall you be glad to see me lose everything?'

'You cannot wish to keep what belongs to others. In that sense I think
we ought to be glad that the will is found.'

She spoke so coldly that he drew away from her again. The second bell
rang.

'They had better have lunch without us,' he said.

He rang and bade the servant ask