The old woman was of course ready with offers of assistance, but a word from Richard sufficed to keep her away.
The examination was quickly made, and they returned as they had come, without exchanging a word on the way. They went upstairs again to the boudoir.
‘Sit down,’ Mutimer said briefly.
He himself continued to stand, again examining the will.
‘I should think,’ he began slowly, ‘it’s as likely as not that this is a forgery.’
‘A forgery? But who could have—’
Her voice failed.
‘He’s not likely to have run the risk himself, I suppose,’ Mutimer pursued, with a quiet sneer, ‘but no doubt there are people who would benefit by it.’
Adela had an impulse of indignation. It showed intself in her cold, steady reply.
‘The will was thick with dust. It has been lying there a long time.’