“I have not been home since this afternoon,” said Angel, and he heard the lawyer’s little sigh of relief.
“I am sorry,” Spedding went on, “that I have to disappoint you all; but as you know, by the terms of the will the fortunate person who discovers the word which opens the safe must notify me, claiming the right to apply the word on the combination lock.”
“That is so,” said Angel.
“I have received such a notification from one of the legatees—Mr. Connor,” the lawyer went on, and drew from his pocket a paper, “and I have his written authority to open the safe on his behalf.”
He handed the paper to Angel, who examined it and handed it back.
“It was signed to-day,” was all that he said.
“At two o’clock this afternoon,” said the lawyer. “I now——”
“Before you go any further, Mr. Spedding,” said Angel, “I might remind you that there is a lady present, and that you have your hat on.”
“A thousand pardons,” said the lawyer with a sarcastic smile, and removed his hat. Angel reached out his hand for it, and mechanically the lawyer relinquished it.
Angel looked at the crown. The nap was rubbed the wrong way, and was covered with fine dust.