Mr Gray's eyes grew absolutely eager and hurried in their speech, but his voice was as cool as ever. "You had better take a chair," he said. Still replying to his eyes, I continued to stand. "I want an order to view the house," I said. "I want you to give me a letter to the caretakers asking them to allow me to go where I please _alone_; and I want you to give me all Cousin Geoffrey's keys." "All Mr Rutherford's keys! What do you mean?" "I cannot tell you. Will you trust me? May I have them?" "You are making a bold and extraordinary request." "I know it." "And you won't explain?" "I can't explain. Oh! Mr Gray, please let me have the keys." The lawyer looked me all over from head to foot; his searching eyes travelled over my person. "At least, Rosamund Lindley, you are honest," he said. "If you open drawers, you won't steal." "No," I said, proudly. "If you peer into secret places, you won't disturb? I see order written across your forehead, Rosamund, and determination sits comfortably on those firm lips of yours, and courage and honesty dwell in your eyes. There! I'm an old fool, I suppose; but chit of a girl as you are, I am going to trust you. If you want those keys, you may have them." "Thank you, Mr Gray; they shall be all safely returned to you to-night." "I should rather think so, indeed. I only meant you to have them for an hour or two." "I shall probably want them for the whole of to-day; and if I do not come across what I am looking for, I shall be obliged to ask you to let me have the keys again to-morrow, again the next day, again every day until my search is ended." "Pooh, pooh!" he said. "You are intent on a search for the hidden will, I suppose. May you find it! you have my best wishes." "Thank you." "By the way, Miss Lindley, you have got that ruby ring of yours safe, I hope?" "Quite safe; it is on my finger." "How often have I warned you not to wear a valuable ring of that kind in so careless a manner! Good heavens! it may slip off when you are washing your hands." "I will take care of that," I answered. The lawyer sighed, favoured me with another keen glance, and then rose deliberately from his chair. "I had better get you the keys," he said. "Shall I come with you to the house?" "No, thank you." "But the keys are heavy. I must send a messenger with you to carry them." "I will take them myself, please." "I warn you that they are heavy." "And I am strong." Mr Gray smiled. "Wilful girl," he said. He ceased to combat any more of my objections, and, walking across his office, opened an iron safe which was let into the wall. He pushed his hand far into the safe and took out a leather bag. There was a label on the bag which I could read. "Geoffrey Rutherford's keys" was written in clear type on the white label. Mr Gray untied the label, placed it in the safe, and brought me over the bag.