MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 321 



With difficulty Lavvy concealed any signs of mirth as 

 Jack passed his arm through hers. 



** I must go and see your father first, little girl." 



"Business should have the preference, Jack." 



" Business be hung 1 But that is business, the most im- 

 portant I have ever undertaken. When I have got your 

 father's consent it won't matter twopence if we make another 

 fruitless search." 



" But how about my curiosity ? You will have to give me 

 my way sometimes. Hadn't you better begin ? " 



" Haven't I begun — all this time ? " with a little nudge. 



" Yes, Jack ; if you hadn't been an angel you would never 

 have spoken to me again ; but somehow I knew, and I think 

 you knew." 



" Of course I did, dear " (with a squeeze of her arm). 

 ** Well, we will just have a peep at the chair." 



" There is something here," he said, holding the chair so 

 that it balanced on one leg. "A keyhole, at all events." 



*' It's a very odd thing, Jack " (Lavvy appeared to take a 

 pleasure in putting in the name as frequently as she could), 

 ** we've searched high and low for Uncle Hugo's Will, and 

 now we light on this hiding-place which I have sat upon 

 every day since I have been here. Sarah Rogers and then 

 you must not have all the credit. Before you go any further, 

 so as to obviate any disputes afterwards, I will tell you 

 that the drawer there contains two books, one of which is a 

 copy of Beckford. At chapter eighteen you will find what 

 we have been looking for." 



Jack Morgan glanced up in astonishment. 



'* What ? And you knew it ? " 



"Yes, at 1. 15, or thereabouts, this morning, I upset that 

 chair and the drawer slipped out." 



" He didn't leave it all to yoji, Lavvy ? " 



" Why ? " 



"Because" (hesitatingly) "it might make a difference." 



" Might it ? I don't see the reason. No ; the property 

 goes to dad. Here is the key." 



21 



