“It’s a pity,” said Jimmy, with a note of genuine regret. “Spanish is a very useful language--especially in the Argentine, for which delightful country, I understand, lawyers who betray their trust have an especial predilection. My Spanish needs a little furbishing, and only the other day I was practising with a man whose name, I believe, is Murrello. Do you know him?” “If you have completed your business, I will ring for the servant,” said the lawyer. “He told me--my Spaniard, I mean--a curious story. He comes from Barcelona, and by way of being a mason or something of the sort, was brought to England with some other of his fellow-countrymen to make some curious alterations to the house of a Señor in--er--Clapham of all places in the world.” The lawyer’s breath came short and fast. “From what I was able to gather,” Jimmy went on languidly, “and my Spanish is Andalusian rather than Catalonian, so that I missed some of his interesting narrative, these alterations partook of the nature of wonderfully concealed strong-rooms--steel doors artfully covered with cheap wood carving, vaults cunningly constructed beneath innocent basement kitchens, little stairways in apparently solid walls and the like.” The levity went out of his voice, and he straightened himself in his chair. “I have no desire to search your office,” he said quietly, “or perhaps I should say no further desire, for I have already methodically examined every hole and corner. No,” he checked the words on Spedding’s lips, “no, it was not I who committed the blundering burglary you spoke of. You never found traces of me, I’ll swear. You may keep the keys of your strong-room, and I shall not trouble your bankers.” “What do you want?” demanded the lawyer shortly. “I want to see what you have got downstairs,” was the reply, and there was no doubting its earnestness, “and more especially do I want to see the red envelope.” The lawyer bent his brows in thought. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly on Jimmy’s. “Suppose,” he said slowly, “suppose that such an envelope did exist, suppose for the sake of argument these mysterious vaults and secret chambers are, as you suggest, in existence, what right have you, more than any other one of the beneficiaries under the will, to demand a private examination? Why should I give you an unfair advantage over them?” Jimmy rose to his feet and stretched himself before replying. “There is only one legatee whom I recognize,” he said briefly, “that is the girl. The money is hers. I do not want a farthing. I am equally determined that nobody else shall touch a penny--neither my young friend Connor”--he stopped to give emphasis to the next two words--“nor yourself.” “Sir!” said the outraged Mr. Spedding.