"Who told you about the secret passage?" Lionel asked; for Dick had informed them he had been searching for the entrance to it.
"Grandfather. How I should like to find it, shouldn't you?"
"Rather!" Lionel cried, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Rather!" echoed Ruth.
"Oh, pooh!" said her brother, turning upon her scornfully. "What do you know about the secret passage; you are—"
"I know as much about it as you do!" she interrupted indignantly.
Lionel had no answer ready, so he inquired of Dick what Sir Richard had said. It was no more than the elder boy knew already, when all was told.
"I should not be surprised if there were great treasures hidden away in that passage," Lionel remarked seriously. "I would give anything to know! What do you say, Dick, shall we enter into a compact to try and find the secret passage? and if we succeed we shall have every right to share the treasures. Do you agree?"
"Oh, yes!" Dick exclaimed readily, his pale face glowing with excitement. "Oh, what fun! When shall we begin to search?"
"I'll help!" Ruth interposed eagerly.