Agatha hesitated; then she said slowly,—
'I do not suppose it will matter now my mentioning it, but Mr. Lester came here about a month ago.'
Major Lester looked astonished.
'I was unaware that my brother had been in England at all since his visit abroad; but he always was most erratic. And may I ask why his visit was to be kept a mystery?'
'I don't think there was any mystery about it. He simply asked me not to mention it.'
'Did he leave no message for me? May I ask his errand?'
'He left no message.'
Agatha was dignity itself. She was going to reveal nothing more, and Major Lester saw as much, and resented it accordingly.
'Well, I see you and my brother came to some understanding together; and, I suppose, this freak of his is the result.'
Then, pulling himself up, as he felt his temper was getting the better of him, he added, more blandly, 'Pray do not think I object to you as permanent neighbours. If I had any ladies in my household, they would have called on you before this. I came to you this morning because there is a locked cupboard of my brother's, which, as his nearest relative, I presume I have a right to open. I believe there are family papers in it of great importance. Perhaps you will kindly allow me to go into the study at once, as I am rather pressed for time.'