[Sidenote: No. 15.] [Illustration: PEACE FIRED, AND WOUNDED THE GIPSY JUST AS HE GAINED THE BANK.] “Oh, I dare say you will be careful enough, but still I hardly know how to act in a case of this sort.” “We can do nothing without them. Will you accompany me to Broxbridge Hall, and bring them with you?” “I am not well enough to bear the fatigue of travelling so far. I have not as yet recovered from a serious illness.” “I leave the matter in your hands. I can get an order in the course of a day or two for you to produce them, but it would be saving a great deal of trouble if you would accede to my request. Yet once for all I must tell you, madam, that Lord Ethalwood counts the hours till I return. He is in the greatest state of anxiety. I have his written authority to act in this matter, the same as himself.” Mr. Wrench pulled from his pocket a document in the handwriting of Lord Ethalwood, bearing his signature and seal, by which Mr. Wrench was empowered to act according to his own impression in all matters concerning the inquiry he was pursuing. Mrs. Maitland put on her spectacles, and perused the document in question. “It is altogether a most wonderful affair,” said the old lady. “To think that all these years should have gone by without any inquiry being made after my little pet. Still, I suppose, I have no right to refuse you; only, you see, I’m loth to part with these articles. Perhaps I had first of all better consult those to whom they in reality belong.” “And who are they?” “My adopted daughter and her husband.” “I would not presume to dictate, madam, but at the same time you will do wisely, I think, by not mentioning the subject to either the lady or her husband till we know whether she is the person, or rather the daughter of the person, I am seeking. That would be the most prudent course. It would be an act of cruelty to raise hopes, which, after all, might have no foundation in fact.” “That is true,” returned Mrs. Maitland. “I will not mention the subject at present to either of them.” “If you are mistrustful of me,” said the detective, with a smile, “you can send these articles of jewellery to Scotland-yard. It amounts to much the same thing, for they will be handed to the officer who has charge of the case, and that is myself, as you are pretty well assured of by this time, I suppose.” “I hope you do not imagine, Mr. Wrench, that I am casting any slight on you by my hesitation――far from it. I have every confidence in you. I ought to have, seeing the trouble you have been at to find out his lordship’s missing daughter or descendants. You had better give me an acknowledgment for the receipt of these articles, and take them with you without further delay. Please let me know, at your earliest convenience, the result of your interview with Lord Ethalwood.” “That you may depend upon, madam.” “It is to me most extraordinary how you found me out,” said the widow as she was proceeding to pack up the jewellery in its case.