"H'm," Mallow reflected, "there may be something in that. Of course, it depends upon what the packet contains. Have you given it to Mr. Brock?"
"No; I thought of doing so to-morrow. He has been too ill to see any one lately."
"What! Is his accident so bad as that?"
"It is as bad as it can be," said Olive, emphatically. "He is old, and not very strong. Besides, he would insist upon being brought back to Casterwell; and the journey has shaken him. The nervous shock has affected his heart, so the doctor says."
"That's bad. Poor old chap! Don't suppose he'll pull through."
"Come and see him with me to-morrow, Laurence."
"Yes, dear, with pleasure. We'll ask him about the packet. I dare say he'll show us what is in it." Mallow rose and began to pace the room, musing as he walked. "It might turn out valuable," he said, at length, "from the care Carson took to conceal it it is evidently a document of importance."
"I wonder why Mr. Carson did conceal it?"
"Because he mistrusted Semberry," replied Mallow, promptly. "Depend upon it, Olive, Carson soon realized that the Major was a shifty scamp, and hid his papers where there was no likelihood of their being read. I see no other explanation for their concealment."
"I shall make a point of seeing Brock to-morrow," he said, looking out of the window and whistling softly.