te of Malachi Withers, not
to be found at the Registry of Deeds or the Probate Office,--any of which
you may happen to have any private and particular knowledge?"

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Gridley; but I don't understand why you come to
me with such questions. Lawyer Penhallow is the proper person, I should
think, to go to. He and his partner that was--Mr. Wibird, you
know--settled the estate, and he has got the papers, I suppose, if there
are any, that ain't to be found in the offices you mention."

Mr. Gridley moved his chair a little, so as to bring Miss Badlam's face a
little more squarely in view.

"Does Mr. William Murray Bradshaw know anything about any papers, such as
I am referring to, that may have been sent to the office?"

The lady felt a little moisture stealing through all her pores, and at
the same time a certain dryness of the vocal organs, so that her answer
came in a slightly altered tone which neither of them could help
noticing.

"You had better ask Mr. William Murray Bradshaw yourself about that," she
answered. She felt the hook now, and her spines were rising, partly with
apprehension, partly with irritation.

"Has that young gentleman ever delivered into your hands any papers
relating to the affairs of the late Malachi Withers, for your safe
keeping?"

"What do you mean by asking me these questions, Mr. Gridley? I don't
choose to be catechised about Murray Bradshaw's business. Go to him, if
you please, if you want to find out about it."

"Excuse my persistence, Miss Badlam, but I must prevail upon you to
answer my question. Has Mr. William Murray Bradshaw ever delivered into
your hands any papers relating to the affairs of the late Malachi
Withers, for your safe keeping?"

"Do you suppose I am going to answer such questions as you are putting me
because you repeat them over, Mr. Gridley? Indeed I cha'n't. Ask him,
if you please, whatever you wish to know about his doings."

She drew herself up and looked savagely at him. She had talked herself
into her courage. There was a color in her cheeks and a sparkle in her
eye; she looked dangerous as a cobra.

"Miss Cynthia Badlam," Master Gridley said, very deliberately, "I am
afraid we do not entirely understand each other. You must answer my
question precisely, categorically, point-blank, and on the instant. Will
you do this at once, or will you compel me to show you the absolute
necessity of your doing it, at the expense of pain