“Really, madam, he is quite unreasonable!”—the housekeeper laughed as she spoke. “He says the sight of the plate has fairly shaken his nerves, and he knows he’ll fancy burglars are breaking into the house every night from this moment forward. I never saw a sensible lad in such a taking. He wants to forfeit his month’s wages and get off as soon as possible.”
“Let him go,” answered Mrs. Rowton; “but pay him his wages, of course. The new footman can arrive to-morrow or the next day at latest—now I’ll come with you to see the new safe.”
The two women went into the butler’s pantry, where the men from London were busy adjusting one of Clever’s patent safes. Nancy looked into it with curiosity. The plate was lying about in all directions. It made a dazzling and splendid show—silver trays, baskets, candelabra, table ornaments of every description, coffee-pots, tea-pots, silver jugs, and valuable silver hunting cups were lying on the shelves, and even on the floor.
“What a quantity!” exclaimed the young mistress of Rowton Heights. “Will the safe hold all these?” she asked, turning to one of the London workmen.
“Oh! yes, madam,” was the reply, “it is one of our very largest. Yes,” he added, glancing at the silver which lay shining all about him; “there is scarcely a country house that holds such treasure as this—to say nothing,” he added, lowering his voice, “of the gold-plated articles and the jewel case.”
“Will you have the goodness to come forward, madam?” said another man. “I should like to show you the secret receptacle where the jewel case will be placed.”
“I think I would rather not,” she said, turning white and frightened.
“As you please, madam,” said the man in some surprise; “but I surely understood from Mr. Rowton that you were to be acquainted with the workings of the safe.”
“Oh! if my husband wished it shown to me, that alters the matter,” said Nance, the colour returning to her face.
She spent nearly an hour with the men, who explained the different keys for opening the safe.