One day she attacked old Master Evans' room, and turned all the furniture out of doors, that she might, as she said, have the place to herself. Out went the ancient chair and table, the heavy bedstead was denuded of its hangings and dragged out into the middle of the floor, and Dame Margery called upon her husband to come and help move out the heavy old secretary and chest of drawers, in which Master Evans had always kept his papers and other more valuable possessions. Simon had looked through this secretary more than once without finding what he sought. Now, however, as he drew the end away from the wall, he perceived a paper sticking out through a crevice, at the back. With some difficulty he pulled it out, and unfolded it, and a moment's glance showed him it was the will he had sought. "Well, what now?" said his wife, sharply. "What is in that paper, that you stare at it like an owl at a mouse?" "I believe, Margery," said Simon, slowly, "that I have found my father's will." "And what if you have? What difference will that make?" "It may make a great deal of difference!" said Simon. "I must find some one who can make me understand this paper. I am sorry that my good lady is gone from the Hall. I believe I will go to the vicar." "Better keep it to yourself, good man," suggested Margery, somewhat alarmed. "What does it signify? You are the eldest son, and have the best right to your father's property, and Winifred is provided for. Better let well alone." "Woman!" said Simon Evans sternly. "Wouldst thou have me build up my house by wrong and robbery, and thus bring upon these young ones the curse of ill-gotten gain? I have ever thought it strange that my father left nothing to my brother Gilbert's family. I doubt not this will set the matter right." So it proved. The new vicar examined the will, and read it to Simon Evans. By this instrument, he discovered that his father had put no less than six hundred pounds into the hands of Sir Edward Peckham, to be invested for the benefit of Magdalen Evans and her children. A great part of this sum, it was stated, consisted of the earnings of Gilbert Evans, and the result of some fortunate speculations in the china jars and Indian brocades and cottons which were just becoming fashionable. In addition, Winifred was to have for life the rents of certain tenements in the village of Holford. Vouchers and all other papers relating to the transaction would be found in the secret drawer where the will was deposited. The clue being given, it was not difficult to discover the drawer, in which were all the documents, arranged in perfect order.