"He will certainly hunt," replied the lawyer determinedly. "Ha!" said Miss Berengaria, rubbing her nose. "So that's it, is it?" "What do you mean, Miss Plantagenet?" "That Bernard has not been disinherited. That old scamp--no, we must talk better of him--that the good old man who is dead repented and left the money to his rightful heir. What a joke!" Miss Berengaria chuckled. "There! there!" she went on, catching Durham's eyes. "It's all right. You have told me nothing. I can guess. Well, well, we must wait till the will is read. Then we shall see what is to be done to prove Bernard's innocence." "That will be a hard task," said Durham, with a sigh; then added, with some little hesitation, "Miss Plantagenet, should Beryl make advances to you in the way of friendship receive them." "Hum," said the lady. "I detest the fellow." "But for Bernard's sake--" "What plan have you in your head?" she asked sharply and peering into his troubled face. "None. But I think that after the reading of the will--" Miss Plantagenet chuckled. "After the reading--well?" "Beryl may make advances to you." "I will receive them. But if he thinks I will tell him where Bernard is to be found he is mistaken." "You don't know where he is, or if he is alive," said Durham, astonished to find how quickly she fathomed his thoughts. "True enough. But I will know before many days are over my head. I quite expect that Bernard will communicate with Alice, and of course she will tell me. As Beryl will find that the money is left to--" "I did not say that," interrupted Durham, quickly, as the brougham stopped at the office door. "To Bernard," went on Miss Berengaria, coolly, "he will try and learn if he is dead or alive. If dead he will--no, I can't say what he will do as I don't know if the money, failing Bernard, is left to him. But if he thinks Bernard is alive he will hunt him down so as to get the money."