"She is fond of power!" replied Nesta. "It pleased her greatly when we came into all this wealth to know that she was the virtual administrator. Even if she could only do it by collusion with Pratt, she would make a fight for all that she--and I--hold. It's useless to deny that. Don't forget," she added, looking appealingly at Collingwood, "don't forget that she has known what it was to be poor--and if one does come into money--I suppose one doesn't want to lose it again." "Oh, it's natural enough!" agreed Collingwood. "But--if things are as I think, Pratt would be an incubus, a mill-stone, for ever. Anyway, I came out to tell you what I've learned, and what I have an idea may be the truth, and above all, to get your definite opinion. You want the Pratt influence out of the way--at any cost?" "At any cost!" she affirmed. "Even if I have to go back to earning my own living! Whatever pleasure in life could there be for me, knowing that at the back of all this there is that--what?" "Pratt!" answered Collingwood. "Pratt! He's the shadow--with his deep schemes. However, as I said--there may be--developing at this moment--another way of getting at Pratt. Gentlemen like Pratt, born schemers, invariably forget one very important factor in life--the unexpected! Even the cleverest and most subtle schemer may have his delicate machinery broken to pieces by a chance bit of mere dust getting into it at an unexpected turn of the wheels. And to turn to plainer language--I'm going back to Barford now to hear what another man has to say concerning certain of Pratt's recent movements." Eldrick was already waiting when Collingwood reached his chambers: Byner came there a few moments later. Within half an hour the barrister had told his story of Cobcroft, and the inquiry agent his of his visit to the _Green Man_ and the quarries. And the solicitor listened quietly and attentively to both, and in the end turned to Collingwood. "I'll withdraw my opinion about the nature of the document which Pratt got hold of," he said. "What he's got is what you think--John Mallathorpe's will!" "If I may venture an opinion," remarked Byner, "that's dead certain!" "And now," continued Eldrick, "we're faced with a nice situation! Don't either of you forget this fact. Not out of willingness on her part, but because she's got to do it, Mrs. Mallathorpe and Pratt are partners in that affair. He's got the will--but she knows its contents. She'll pay any price to Pratt to keep them from ever becoming known or operative. But, as I say, don't you forget something!" "What?" asked Collingwood. Eldrick tapped the edge of the table, emphasizing his words as he spoke them. "They can destroy that will whenever they like!" he said. "And once destroyed, nothing can absolutely prove that it ever existed!" "The duplicate?" suggested Collingwood. "Nothing to give us the faintest idea as to its existence!" said Eldrick. "We might advertise," said Collingwood.