‘No, never,’ answered Aunt Olive. ‘I used to wonder afterwards that it had not done so.’ She paused, hesitated, made one or two beginnings, and finally said in a very low voice, ‘Phil, if I tell you something, will you promise not to be rash?—it is only a suspicion—a groundless one, most likely. You must not think too seriously about it.’ ‘I will not abuse your confidence,’ answered Tor reassuringly. ‘I know as well as you do that suspicions are not of much value; still I should like to hear yours.’ Mrs. Lorraine leaned forward, and in a voice that was little more than a whisper said: ‘I have fancied sometimes that he made a later will, unknown to your uncle, and that that was why the unjust condition he had made about Maud’s money did not trouble him.’ Tor started, and his eyes gleamed in the darkness. ‘Nothing more likely; but where, then, is that will?’ Aunt Olive shook her head sadly. ‘Ah, Phil, that is just the point; where is it? It could not have been deposited with any lawyer, or it would have been forthcoming at the time. He must have kept it, foolish, fellow that he was, amongst his private papers; and you know who had the examining of all effects, and into whose hands it would fall. Poor Philip never thought of such things; and even he, I think, would hardly believe that a will once found would be——’ and here she came to a dead stop. ‘You mean,’ said Tor quietly, ‘that you think Belassis found the will and destroyed it?’ ‘What can I think?’ questioned Mrs. Lorraine nervously. ‘It certainly was not found, and you may be sure your uncle would have his suspicions and leave no papers unexamined. If it was there, he must have found it; but nothing was ever heard of it.’ ‘The old scoundrel!’ muttered Tor between his teeth. ‘I believe he is an old scoundrel,’ said Mrs. Lorraine, with more spirit than usual; ‘but what can be done? We do not even know that a second will existed at all. If we were able to prove that one was drawn up, we could not prove that your father had not destroyed it himself. You may be quite sure that Alfred Belassis will have taken every precaution. He will not have done any foolish thing that could be proved against him.’ Tor rose and paced the room slowly. ‘If this will had existed, would not my father have told you? Would not he have given it into your custody before he died? It seems incredible that he should have left it to the mercy of Belassis.’