Violet paled, and the agitation which always came over her when her father's death or the study was alluded to showed itself.
"Why?" she said.
"Well," said the captain, softly, "only because it is usual. There may be valuables—or papers."
"I see," she breathed. "It shall be so. I will write——"
"Or allow me," said the captain, "we will fix a day; and Mr. Thaxton shall come down."
"Yes," said Violet, "soon. I meant to have the room opened to-day, but I will wait if you think it better."
"Oh, yes, I think it better to have the lawyer with us," said the captain, "and I will write to him."
So the captain wrote that evening to Mr. Thaxton, requesting him to be kind enough to come down to Mildmay Park as soon as he could conveniently do so, as Miss Mildmay wished to see him on a matter of business.
All the evening he was as good-tempered and as amusing as usual, and there was not a shadow upon his face when he wished the unsuspecting women good-night, though already in anticipation he was tasting the horror of an ordeal which he had determined to go through.
As usual, he waited until all was quiet, then he lit his cigar and with an outwardly calm bearing smoked it and enjoyed it.