“Ah, as to that, riches are not everything, though many persons think they are――I do not, however. By the way, Tom, do you know that Mr. Peace made Aveline an offer?” “Yes, I’ve heard so; but she wouldn’t listen to him.” “No, I candidly confess that I had rather a good opinion of him at one time――not as a suitor for Aveline, but I thought him good-natured and kindly disposed.” “Probably he may be so.” “But I have very much altered my opinion with regard to him――very much indeed,” returned the widow, with forcible emphasis. Gatliffe refrained from offering any remark. It was evident, from his manner, that he did not want to dwell further on the subject. Aveline now entered the room, whereupon her lover rose and embraced her. “It is all settled, dearest,” he exclaimed, in a tone of delight. “You will learn the full particulars from Mrs. Maitland.” “So you have been having a _tete-à-tete_, it seems.” “Yes, we have, my child,” said Mrs. Maitland, “and a very satisfactory one it has proved to be.” “I’m glad of that,” murmured Aveline. “You both seem well pleased.” Young Gatliffe thought it was time to take his departure. He was elated with the successful nature of his interview with the widow, and thought it best to leave her alone with Aveline. CHAPTER XII. THE BURGLARY AT WOOD-HILL――AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. It would not be edifying to the reader to chronicle all the marauding expeditions in which our hero was engaged at this period. The money obtained by the exercise of his musical ability did not content him for long. He visited several houses after nightfall, and if the booty obtained was not large he escaped without detection. He had “spotted,” to use his own phrase, a house standing in its own grounds at Wood-hill, within a few miles of Sheffield. The place seemed so isolated and looked so tempting, it being in the occupation of some rich person, that Peace determined upon paying it an early visit. At the back of the house was a conservatory. This could be reached from one of the back rooms. Indeed, it might be said to form part of the room itself. Peace, who had noted all these things when passing the place in midday, had determined upon his plan of operations. He scaled the iron railings which ran round the front garden, and made at once for the greenhouse. To obtain an entrance into this was a matter of no great difficulty. The two folding doors of the parlour led into the conservatory. These were, as a matter of course, fastened, but not very securely. The burglar, who, as we have already seen, was an expert in dealing with locks and bolts, began by ascertaining, as nearly as possible, the nature of the fastenings. With a bit of bent wire he picked the lock, and one of the doors yielded to his pressure.