guineas of my own to give them," she thought
sorrowfully. "Oh dear! it's such a big sum--one might as well wish for
the moon. I'm afraid there's not the slightest chance for poor Mrs.
Courtenay unless the legacy turns up."

It was in rather a dejected mood that the girls betook themselves to the
upper landing that afternoon, and once more climbed the now familiar
winding staircase. The lantern room looked exactly the same as on their
two former visits. There was nothing in it to excite interest or arouse
curiosity. A more unromantic chamber could not be conceived.

The window was closed, the rusty firegrate contained only a few ashes,
and the door of the cupboard stood open, revealing rows of empty
shelves. The one object worthy of notice was the ancient lantern, which
hung from a hook in the middle of the ceiling. That, at any rate, was
curious. It was of a quaint, medieval pattern, and the sides, instead of
being of glass, were of thin pieces of horn.

"It's a funny old thing," said Lindsay. "I suppose they used a dip
candle for it. I wonder if there's a piece left in it still?"

She stood on tiptoe, and made an effort to open the lantern, but it was
hung too high to allow her to peep inside. Reaching up as best she
could, she gave it a jerk, to try to lift it down. Quite suddenly and
unexpectedly the lantern and hook descended by a chain from the ceiling.
There was a strange grating sound, and, turning round, the girls saw a
sight which made them gasp with amazement.

CHAPTER XIV

The Lantern Room

Lindsay and Cicely might well cry out with surprise. A most peculiar
thing had happened. A part of the back of the cupboard had opened like a
door, revealing a narrow passage behind. Here at last was the
hiding-place for which they had sought so long in vain.

They had never suspected the cupboard. It looked so ordinary, with its
rows of shelves, that no one would have dreamt it concealed a secret
exit. By a clever arrangement the lantern evidently worked a spring, and
when pulled down caused the door to unclose automatically. Somebody in
days gone by had no doubt constructed it thus to form a refuge in time
of danger. The girls were in raptures of delight.

"This, of course, was where Mrs. Wilson vanished," said Lindsay.

"And what Merle saw," added Cicely.

[Illustration: THE SECRET DOOR]

It was an intense satisfaction to have found it out for themselves,
especially when they had come upstairs wit