She ran up quickly, evidently wondering.
"Look here," cried Mr. Barley, "Mrs. Edwin's will can't be found. It was left in this cabinet, my brother is told."
"Oh, then Mrs. Edwin did make a will?" was the response of Charlotte Delves.
"Yes; but it is gone," repeated Mr. Barley of the Oaks.
"It cannot be gone," said Charlotte. "If the will was left in the cabinet, there it would be now."
The old story was gone over again; nothing more. The will had been made, and as certainly placed there. The servants were honest, not capable of meddling with that or anything else. But there was no sign or symptom of a will left.
"It is very strange," exclaimed Mr. Edwin Barley, looking furtively from the corner of his black eyes at most of us in succession, as if we were in league against him or against the will. "I will have the house searched throughout."
The search took place that same evening. Himself, his brother, Mr. Gregg, and Charlotte Delves taking part in it. Entirely without success.
And in my busy heart there was running a conviction all the while, that Mr. Edwin Barley had himself made away with the will.
"Will you not act in accordance with its provisions, sir?" Mr. Gregg asked him as he was leaving.