“How do you do, Miss Lindley?” he said; “please be seated.”

His manner was calm and pleasant, but his eyes said plainly, “Now, what’s up? Have you got any news for me?”

I answered Mr Gray’s eyes, not his voice. I did not sit down, but stood close to him, as if I was in haste to be gone.

“I want an order to view Cousin Geoffrey’s house,” I said.

“What, again?” he asked.

“Yes, and I am in a great hurry.”

Mr Gray’s eyes grew absolutely eager and hurried in their speech, but his voice was as cool as ever.

“You had better take a chair,” he said.

Still replying to his eyes, I continued to stand.

“I want an order to view the house,” I said. “I want you to give me a letter to the caretakers asking them to allow me to go where I please alone; and I want you to give me all Cousin Geoffrey’s keys.”