‘I came away—because I found something—this!’
She had hoped to speak with calmness, but the interval of waiting had agitated her, and the fear which no effort could allay struck her heart as he entered. She held the parchment to him.
‘What is it?’ he asked, his attention gradually awakened by surprise. He did not move forward to meet her extended hand.
‘You will see—it is the will that we thought was destroyed—old Mr. Mutimer’s will.’
She rose and brought it to him. He looked at her with a sceptical smile, which was involuntary, and lingered on his face even after he had begun to read the document.
Adela seated herself again; she had scarcely power to stand. There was a long silence.
‘Where did you find this?’ Mutimer inquired at length. His tone astonished her; it was almost indifferent. But he did not raise his eyes.
She explained. It was needless, she thought, to give a reason for her search in the lower cupboard; but the first thing that occurred to Mutimer was to demand such reason.
A moment’s hesitation; then:
‘A piece of money rolled down behind the shelf on which the books are; there is a gap at the back. I suppose that is how the will fell down.’