CHAPTER X THE CHESTERMARKE WAY Mrs. Carswell herself opened the door of the bank-house in response to Miss Fosdyke's ring. She started a little at sight of the visitor, and her eyes glanced involuntarily and, as it seemed to Betty, with something of uneasiness, at the side-door which led into the Chestermarkes' private parlour. And Betty immediately interpreted the meaning of that glance. "No, Mrs. Carswell," she said, before the housekeeper could speak, "I haven't come to call on either Mr. Gabriel or Mr. Joseph Chestermarke--I came to see you. Mayn't I come in?" Mrs. Carswell stepped back into the hall, and Betty followed. For a moment the two looked at each other. And in the elder woman's eyes there was still the same expression, and it was with obvious uncertainty, if not with positive suspicion, that she waited. "You have not heard anything of Mr. Horbury?" asked Betty, who was not slow to notice the housekeeper's demeanour. "Nothing!" replied Mrs. Carswell, with a shake of the head. "Nothing at all! No one has told me anything." Betty turned to the door of the dining-room. "Very well," she said. "I dare say you know, Mrs. Carswell, that I am my uncle's nearest relation. Now I want to go through his papers and things. I want to see his desk--his last letters--anything--and everything there is." She laid a hand on the door--and Mrs. Carswell suddenly found her tongue. "Oh, miss!" she said, in a low, frightened voice, "you can't! That room's locked up. So is the study--where all Mr. Horbury's papers are. So is his bedroom. Mr. Joseph Chestermarke locked them all up last night--he has the keys. Nobody's to go into them--nor into any other room--without his permission." Betty's cheeks began to glow, and an obstinate look to settle about her lips. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "But I think I shall have something to say to that, Mrs. Carswell. Ask Mr. Joseph Chestermarke to come here a minute." The housekeeper shrunk back. "I daren't, Miss Fosdyke!" she answered. "It would be as much as my place was worth!" "I thought you were my uncle's housekeeper," suggested Betty. "Aren't you? Or are you employed by Mr. Joseph Chestermarke? Come, now?" Mrs. Carswell hesitated. It was very evident that she was afraid. But of what? "So far as I know," continued Betty, "this is my uncle's house, and you're his servant. Am I right or wrong, Mrs. Carswell?" "Right as regards my being engaged by Mr. Horbury," replied the housekeeper. "But the house belongs to--them! Mr. Horbury--so I understand--had the use of it--it was reckoned as part of his salary. It's their house, miss." "But, anyway, my uncle's effects are his--and I mean to see them," insisted Betty. "If you won't call Mr. Joseph--or Mr. Gabriel--out, I shall walk into the bank at the front door, and demand to see them. You'd better let one of them know I'm here, Mrs. Carswell--I'm not going to stand any nonsense."