"If the honourable and learned gentleman has sufficiently refreshed himself with the cup that cheers, would he oblige the company by mentioning if he has done anything in the matter of the Hidden Treasure--with capitals please!--and, if so, what?" "I have at least found that everything points to there being such a hidden treasure--in spite of Jack's pretended scepticism." "My pretended scepticism! Sir, I would have you know that I am no sceptic; or, if I am, never was one more willing to be converted to the faith." Ella interposed. "And, Mr. Graham, you really think there is a hidden treasure?" "I think it extremely probable." "Tell us all about it. What have you been doing? All day long I have been dreaming in the City of what would happen if we did light upon a secret hoard. It really would be too splendid for words." The young lady looked the eagerness which the words suggested--like an imaginative child who pictures the materialisation of some favourite tale of faerie. "To begin with, I went to the house agents to learn for whom they are acting." "Well, and what did they say?" "They were not particularly willing to say anything--as I expected. They were apparently under the impression that I intended to take the bread out of their mouths, by dealing with their principals direct. But when I had succeeded in, at any rate, partly reassuring them, they informed me they were acting for a firm of solicitors--Messrs. Nicholls & Hawkins, 3, South Square, Gray's Inn." "Well, and what did you do then?" "I went to the solicitors." "It is awfully good of you to take so much trouble. And what did they say?" "As it happened, I had some knowledge of the firm. My father was on terms of friendship with their senior partner, so that when I introduced myself to Mr. Nicholls as my father's son, the way was smoothed for me. They have the reputation of being a steady-going, old-fashioned firm, and I found them as open and above-board as they very well could have been. When I mentioned my errand, Mr. Nicholls was all alive at once." "'Messrs. Palmer & Beading, of Wandsworth,' I began, 'inform me that in letting Clover Cottage they are instructed by you. May I ask who is the owner of the property?' "When I said that, he sat up straight in his chair, and, as I observed, became all alive--oh. "'May I inquire, in return, why you ask the question?' "'The question,' I admitted, 'is a little irregular; but I take it that you will have no objection to give me an answer.' "'Not the slightest. On the contrary, we shall be delighted if you will help us to throw light into what is, at present, a very dark corner; because, as a matter of fact, so far as we are concerned, there is no owner.' "'The late Thomas Ossington died intestate!' "'So far as our knowledge goes.' "'Leaving instructions that you should act on his behalf?'