"No; Mrs. Oakley would never admit me again."
The lawyer sat for a moment plunged in thought. At length he said:—
"Have you ever chanced, since your father's death, to see your stepmother searching the papers he left behind?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell me when."
John related the circumstances.
"Did she give any explanation?"
"She said she was looking for a receipt."
"Didn't she seem disturbed at your seeing her thus engaged?"