"Come upstairs to Mr. Jabez and he'll explain," said George, leading the way up the steps, "we cannot linger here. Hale may see us." "Hale," Charvington followed hurriedly and caught the young man's arm, "and why is Hale coming here?" "He has found--so he says--my cousin." "Your--cousin?" "My aunt's child--the heir to the property which Mr. Jabez has held for so long." Charvington stopped on the landing. "So Hale is going to anticipate me," he muttered, and without waiting to be announced he opened the door of Jabez's private room and strode in. The lawyer looked up irritably. "I'm engaged. You, Lord Charvington? Well, I might have guessed as much from your abrupt entry. You haven't changed much in your impulsive ways." Lord Charvington threw down his hat and stick and gloves and flung himself into a chair. "I have changed very much in looks," he retorted; "however there is no time for these personalities. Walker," he indicated the young man who had followed him closely, "tells me that Hale intends to produce the heiress to his aunt's property." Jabez looked inquisitively at Charvington through his blue spectacles. "I believe so," he said quietly and cautiously, with a glance at his watch. "Hale will bring the girl here in a few minutes." "It's a girl then," sneered Charvington. "You mentioned the word 'heiress' yourself," remarked Jabez, with emphasis. "A mere guess. And what of the cross?" "Hale says that the girl will produce it." "Humph! I don't believe that the girl will produce stolen property. You know that the cross was stolen from my house?" "So I believe," said Jabez politely. "Yes, Walker here told me, though how it got into my library----" "I can tell you that now, Lord Charvington," interposed George, "as I heard the truth from Canning the other day. Sargent employed Canning to steal the cross in order to pass it over to your wife." Charvington bounded from his chair. "What did she want with it?" "I can't say--I don't----" "Hush," said Jabez, who, at the sound of wheels in the courtyard, had gone to one of the tall windows; "here come Hale and his heiress. Go into the next room with Walker, Lord Charvington. When I require you I shall summon you." "But why do you bring me here at all?" demanded Charvington brusquely. Jabez looked straight at him and his long fingers played a tune on the table. "I have an idea," he said gravely; "you may be able to tell me if that idea is correct." "What is the idea?" "I cannot tell it to you, until I see this heiress." "Very good." Charvington sat down again. "Introduce her and Hale." "No! No!" said Jabez anxiously, "that would never do. Wait until I hear Hale's story and then----" "Hale will only tell you a pack of lies," interrupted Charvington violently. "And besides he stole the cross and----" Jabez put his hand against the breast of the angry speaker and pushed him gently towards a side door. "Go in there and wait," he said insistently. "You also, Walker."