Julius smiled and patting his head, walked on to the drawing-room. It was a very pretty comedy, but Durham was not to be taken in. He knew well enough that the boy was a mere tool and a dangerous one. As a matter of fact, he did not know until later how dangerous the lad really could be. Miss Berengaria and Alice were in the drawing-room, and both smiled a welcome when the two men entered. Alice darted a look of terror and repulsion at Beryl, but as he was shaking hands with the old lady he did not see it, else he might have suspected. Durham guessed this and touched her hand. She nodded, and when Julius shook hands with her she welcomed him again with a smile, although her very flesh crept when she touched him. As for Miss Berengaria, that indomitable old lady never turned a hair. She smiled and chatted, and was bland to Julius. He might have been her dearest friend from the amount of attention she bestowed on him. "So poor Bernard is going to make his will," she said briskly. "I hope he has left Alice something." "Five hundred a year, and the like amount to Mrs. Gilroy." "Indeed, Mr. Durham; and why to Mrs. Gilroy?" "Bernard looks upon her as a second mother," said Julius, hastily; "at least he told me so. Of course, I know nothing about her. I hope, however, she will reappear to claim her legacy." "There may be no chance for anyone to claim legacies for a long time," said Miss Berengaria, tartly. "I hope Bernard will not die." "I hope so also," said Alice, fervently; and she really meant it, even though she was thinking of the young scamp upstairs. Julius shook his head. "Dr. Payne assures me he cannot live. I am glad he has decided to make this will." "Yes, you would be," said Miss Berengaria ironically, and she might have been rash enough to say more, but that Durham intervened. "I hope none of the servants know that Bernard is here?" "They all know by this time," said Miss Berengaria, calmly. "We kept the matter from them as long as possible; and with Alice I waited on Bernard myself. But Jerry told the servants as well as Mr. Beryl." "Will the knowledge go any further?" said the lawyer, keeping up the comedy. "I don't want Bernard arrested." "My servants will not speak under pain of dismissal, if that is what you mean," said Miss Plantagenet, sharply. "As to Jerry----" "He is one of your servants also," said Beryl, softly; "but I have some influence over Jerry, and I will see that he holds his tongue." "You can take him away altogether," snapped Miss Berengaria. "I don't approve of having boys with long tongues in my house. Jerry had no right to be hanging round the garden when Bernard arrived, much less to write and tell you that he was here." "He thought I was anxious." "I daresay you are," said the old dame, "to see Bernard hanged." "Indeed, no," replied Julius, earnestly. "I wish him to die in peace."