'He has spent a lot of money on your education.'
'Yes, and he has ventured a lot of money in the trade—of late he has not been able to realise. The look-out has been so sharp that he has had no returns. You know how this last affair has ended.'
'Nothing has been confiscated.'
'No—but nothing has been sold.'
'I am not satisfied. On the whole he has been a lucky man, and, by the foot of Pharaoh, a man like him is not ruined by a bad job. Let us look round. If we find anything, you know what was his last desire, that you should intrust it to me—make me your banker. You see this slate? He was vastly against you keeping it yourself. He knew how thoughtless and wasteful young men are.'
'We will talk of the disposal of the money when we have found it,' said Jack. 'I will go round with you, and we will search, but I have formed no very great expectations, so shall not be downcast if we find nothing.'
Every candle was lighted, and Jack and Olver thoroughly explored the house together. This was now the third time it had been searched; but on this occasion the ferryman was not hurried. He had the whole night before him.
They took down all the garments suspended in the wardrobe, Dench felt every fold, examined the linings, beat them with a stick. They searched above the receptacle, they looked under it. The only thing they did not do was to draw it bodily out of its place, and this they did not attempt because it was fastened into its place by crooks driven into the wall, secured with screws that had become rusted into their place. Jane Marley's bedroom was subjected to a search so thorough that the two men omitted nothing.
It was during this investigation that Jane returned. She watched them as they continued the exploration, and held the candle for them.
'We will let the fire out,' said Olver. 'I will go up the chimney and examine that.'