“That's just the point,” said Hall, his face taking on a despairing look. “If we don't find that will, she gets nothing!” “How's that?” I said. “Why, she's really not related to the Crawfords. She's a niece of Joseph Crawford's wife. So in the absence of a will his property will all go to his brother Philip, who is his legal heir.” “Oho!” I exclaimed. “This is a new development. But the will will turn up.” “Oh, yes, I'm sure of it,” returned Hall, but his anxious face showed anything but confidence in his own words. “But,” I went on, “didn't Philip Crawford object to his brother's giving all his fortune to Miss Lloyd?” “It didn't matter if he did. Nobody could move Joseph Crawford's determination. And I fancy Philip didn't make any great disturbance about it. Of course, Mr. Joseph had a right to do as he chose with his own, and the will gave Philip a nice little sum, any way. Not much, compared to the whole fortune, but, still, a generous bequest.” “What does Mr. Randolph say?” “He's completely baffled. He doesn't know what to think.” “Can it have been stolen?” “Why, no; who would steal it? I only fear he may have destroyed it because he expected to make a different one. In that case, Florence is penniless, save for such bounty as Philip Crawford chooses to bestow on her.” I didn't like the tone in which Hall said this. It was distinctly aggrieved, and gave the impression that Florence Lloyd, penniless, was of far less importance than Miss Lloyd, the heiress of her uncle's millions. “But he would doubtless provide properly for her,” I said. “Oh, yes, properly. But she would find herself in a very different position, dependent on his generosity, from what she would be as sole heir to her uncle's fortune.” I looked steadily at the man. Although not well acquainted with him, I couldn't resist giving expression to my thought. “But since you are to marry her,” I said, “she need not long be dependent upon her uncle's charity.” “Philip Crawford isn't really her uncle, and no one can say what he will do in the matter.” Gregory Hall was evidently greatly disturbed at the new situation brought about by the disappearance of Mr. Crawford's will. But apparently the main reason for his disturbance was the impending poverty of his fiancee. There was no doubt that Mr. Carstairs and others who had called this man a fortune-hunter had judged him rightly. However, without further words on the subject, I waited while Hall locked the door of the office, and then we went together to the great drawing-room, where the funeral services were about to take place. I purposely selected a position from which I could see the faces of the group of people most nearly connected with the dead man. I had a strange feeling, as I looked at them, that one of them might be the instrument of the crime which had brought about this funeral occasion.