"What do you expect to find in them?" Lawrence asked. "I do not remember anything about such a mysterious place."
"I have heard about it in London," Mrs. Copley answered. "Somebody who had been there told me about it, and I made up my mind I'd see it if ever I got a chance. It is like having Aladdin's lamp and going down into his vault—only you can't take away what you've a mind to; that's the only difference."
"But what is there? Aladdin's grotto was full of precious stones, if I remember."
"And so are these," cried Mrs. Copley. "There is an egg with a hen in it."
At this there was a general laugh.
"It's a fact," said Mrs. Copley. "And in the hen, or under it—in the hen, I believe—there is a crown of gold and diamonds and pearls, with a motto. Oh, it's wonderful. It's better than the Arabian Nights, if it's true."
"Except that we cannot take the egg away with us," said Lawrence. "However—pray, do they let in the indiscriminate public to see these wonders?"
"I don't know. I suppose there are ways to get in, or nobody would have been in."
"No doubt; the problem is, to find the way. Influence may be necessary, possibly."
"I daresay Mr. Copley can manage it. Do write and ask him what we must do, Dolly; and ask him to send us letters, or leave, or whatever we must have. Write to-day, will you? and ask him to send it right away. Of course there are ways to do things."