, and Mrs. Tynn,
were the only persons who could have testified that the supposed codicil
was nothing but a glove. From the finding of that, the story had
originally got wind.

"I don't know why Matiss should have spoken to you on the subject of the
codicil," he remarked to Roy.

"It's not much that Matiss talks, sir," was the man's answer. "All he
said was as he had got the codicil in safe keeping under lock and key.
Just put to Matiss the simplest question, and he'll turn round and ask
what business it is of yours."

"Quite right of him, too," said Lionel. "Have you any news of your son
yet, Roy?"

Roy shook his head. "No, sir. I'm a-beginning to wonder now whether
there ever will be news of him."

After the man had departed, Lionel looked at his watch. There was just
time for a ride to Deerham Court before dinner. He ordered his horse,
and mounted it, a cheque for three hundred pounds in his pocket.

He rode quickly, musing upon what Matiss had said about the codicil--as
stated by Roy. Could the deed have been found?--and Matiss forgotten to
acquaint him with it. He turned his horse down the Belvedere Road,
telling his groom to wait at the corner, and stopped before the lawyer's
door. The latter came out.

"Matiss, is that codicil found?" demanded Lionel, bending down his head
to speak.

"What codicil, Mr. Verner?" returned Matiss, looking surprised.

"_The_ codicil. The one that gave me the estate. Roy was with me just
now, and he said you stated to him that the codicil was found--that it
was safe under lock and key."

The lawyer's countenance lighted up with a smile. "What a meddler the
fellow is! To tell you the truth, sir, it rather pleases me to mislead
Roy, and put him on the wrong scent. He comes here, pumping, trying to
get what he can out of me: asking this, asking that, fishing out
anything there is to fish. I recollect, he did say something about the
codicil, and I replied, 'Ay, it was a good thing it was found, and safe
under lock and key.' He tries at the wrong handle when he pumps at me."

"What is his motive for pumping at all?" returned Lionel.

"There's no difficulty in guessing at that, sir. Roy would give his two
ears to get into place again; he'd like to fill the same post to you
that he did to the late Mr. Verner. He thinks if he can hang about here
and pick up any little bit of information that may be let drop, and
carry it to you, that it might tell in his favour. He would like y