"Then----"
"Stay one moment, Master Whitehead," said Sir George; "if I remember aught, Sir Aubrey never had his part of the document delivered to him. His father expressly stated that a metal box was to be given to him, and under pains and penalties he was not to open it to this day. But, as we know, that box was filched, and therefore Sir Aubrey could not possibly have opened it, neither can he be held accountable for its contents."
"True, true! Sir George," replied Master Whitehead; "but unfortunately, though Sir Aubrey is not to be held accountable, the fact remains that the complete solution is missing, and, as my late client refused to make a duplicate, the secret is as far off as ever."
Here I could not forbear from interrupting the argument betwixt the knight and the lawyer.
"But I have a copy of the part that should have been entrusted to me!"
"Heaven bless the boy!" ejaculated Sir George. "Where is it, and how came you by it?"
In answer I rushed off to my own room, laid hold of the precious copy, and returned.
"Here it is!" I shouted triumphantly, handing it to Master Whitehead, and straightway I told them of my meeting with Increase Joyce, and how I secured the temporary possession of the filched document.
"Now for the test," remarked Sir George when I had finished my tale, and straightway the three papers were placed side by side on the table, everyone crowding round to read what the joint document would reveal.
The paper which I produced did not correspond with the others, and the lawyer twisted and turned them about for some considerable time. At length a puckered frown overspread his wizened face, and he beat upon the table with his fingers with the air of a man who has sustained a momentary check.