"Why?" asked Pentreddle quickly.
"He came up here and insisted that I should destroy the will I made in favour of his brother and Miss Carrol. Here it is," and Colpster passed along the large envelope. "Take it, Harry, and give it to Basil when he returns. It is not safe here."
"Shall I take the emerald?" asked Harry, putting the envelope containing the will in the breast-pocket of his pea-jacket.
Colpster snatched the gem to his breast and nursed it there like a baby.
"No! no! no!" he cried vehemently. "I can't part with that. I'll die before anyone shall have it but me. Give me more wine."
Still clutching the jewel he drank another glass of port, and became quite strong again with the stimulant. Meanwhile Theodore lay stiffly on the carpet, cursing volubly. Harry kicked him.
"Shut your mouth," said the sailor, "or I'll gag you."
"I'll have you arrested for this," repeated Theodore, impotently scowling.
"That's all right," said Pentreddle, and drawing a chair near the sofa he turned to the Squire. "Now, sir, we must have a talk."
"What's the matter?" asked Colpster in some alarm. "Where have you been to, and where have you come from?"