"Do you think the treasure was small in bulk and placed in his coffin?" said Zena eagerly, leaning forward in her chair as she asked the question. "Certainly in that case he would be perfectly justified in saying that he didn't send it out of the house," said Quarles. "It is most improbable," I said. "To begin with, Mr. Ottershaw wished to be cremated, so would hardly leave any such instructions. And, further, Sims saw him placed in his coffin, and says nothing was buried with the body." "It is an interesting problem," said the professor; "but one does not feel very much inclined to help the Bryants." "Then you have a theory?" I asked. "I haven't got so far as theory; I am only rather keen to try my wits. There is a shadowy idea at the back of my brain which may be gone by morning. If it hasn't, we'll go and see Sims." Next morning when I went to Chelsea, as I had arranged to do, I found Quarles waiting for me, and we went to Fulham together. Sims had two rooms in his niece's house, but took his meals with the family. We went into his sitting room and he was quite ready to talk about Mr. Ottershaw. I told him that Quarles was a gentleman who thought he could find the hidden money. "I shall be very glad if he does," said Sims. "The Bryants will know then that I had nothing to do with it. Mr. Charles has been the worst; but since I tried to sell that pin Mr. George has been as bad." "I take it you don't like the Bryants," said Quarles. "I don't dislike them, only when they bother me." "Your master didn't like them?" "Didn't he? I never heard him say. He wasn't in the habit of saying much to anybody, not even to me." "You were fond of him?" "Loved him. He wasn't what you would call a lovable character, but I loved him, and he liked me. You see, him and me were born in the same neighborhood, five miles out of Worcester; and when he came back from India he came down there to see an old friend, since dead, and I happened to be there at the time out of a job. That's how we came together fifteen years ago." "You didn't go at once to Norbiton?" "Not until three years afterward." "Where were you during those three years?" "In several places, part of the time in Switzerland, and in Germany." "Now about this treasure, Mr. Sims?" "Bless you, sir, I don't believe in it." "The will very distinctly mentions it." "I know. I've heard such a lot about that will from the Bryants that I know it almost by heart. It was a joke, that's what I think. Why, Mr. Charles has asked me more than once whether I didn't slip it into his coffin." "Mr. Ottershaw gave you no such instructions, I suppose," said Quarles.