"Here they are," he said, "the precious keys! here they are, one and all--some bright, some rusty; some large, some small. You will have to take pains with these keys, Miss Rosamund. They were made specially for their owner by a skilled locksmith; they are full of curious tricks; some must turn twice before they open, some must lock and unlock and lock again and yet again; some remain immovable until they find the secret spring. Don't break any of them, for it would be difficult to replace them. Now take the bag; its contents are heavy and more precious than gold." Mr Gray placed the leather bag in my hand. Its weight surprised me. I would not show dismay, however, but girding up my courage and all the muscles of my strong right arm, went out into the street. I had to walk the whole length of this long street before I came across an empty hansom. Both arms ached by this time. From right hand to left I changed that bag; from left hand back again to right. I never carried anything so heavy before. I wished more than once that I had accepted Mr Gray's offer of sending a trusty messenger with me. At last, however, my earnestly desired hansom crawled slowly into view. I hailed it, got in, and a few minutes later found myself standing in the hall of Cousin Geoffrey's house. The caretaker, Drake, was within. He knew me this time, and smiled a welcome. "Drake," I said, "I have come to spend some hours here. Mr Gray says that I am to have full liberty, and am not to be questioned or interfered with in any way." "Certainly, miss; whatever Mr Gray wishes must be done." "Is Mrs Drake within this morning, Drake?" "The missus is down in the kitchen, miss; shall I fetch her to you?" "I don't think you need do that. I only wanted to say that as I shall probably have to spend the day here, I should like to have something to eat." "Yes, Miss Lindley; the missus had better come up and take your orders." "No, Drake; I have no time to waste in that way. Go down-stairs and tell her that I will come to her in the kitchen at two o'clock. Ask her to have a cup of tea for me and a boiled egg, if quite convenient. I shall pay, of course." "Oh, miss, there ain't no need. Mr Gray provides us very liberally. I'll give the wife your orders, Miss Lindley." CHAPTER FOURTEEN. KEYS AND LOCKS. As the saying is, I had my task cut out for me. Never did any one go more nearly mad over the subject of keys than I. Cousin Geoffrey, with all his eccentricities, had in many respects a well-balanced mind. Nothing could have been neater than the queer arrangements of his house. Everywhere there were locked cupboards, locked bureaus, locked chests of drawers, boxes with locks to them, portfolios which could only be opened by fitting a key into a lock. In short, there never was a more thoroughly locked-up house. No wonder the bag which contained Cousin Geoffrey's keys should prove heavy.