while between him and the landlord an amount of intimacy had
grown up--a sort of confidence was established--that Bella's keen glance
rapidly read.

"An old-fashioned lock, and doubtless worth nothing, Miss Kellett,"
said Hankes, as with a contemptuous smile he regarded the curiously
carved ornament of the keyhole. "You have the key, I think?"

"Yes; it required some ingenuity to withdraw it from where, I suppose,
it has been rusting many a year."

"It strikes me I might as well put a band over the lock and affix my
seal. It will convey the notion of something very precious inside,"
added he, laughing, "and our friend here, Mr. Rorke, will feel an
increased importance in the guardianship of such a treasure."

"I 'll guard it like goold, sir; that you may depend on," chimed in the
landlord.

Why was it that, as Bella's quick glance was bent upon him, he turned so
hastily away, as if to avoid the scrutiny?

Do not imagine, valued reader, that while this young girl scanned the
two faces before her, and tried to discover what secret understanding
subsisted between these two men,--strangers but an hour ago,--that she
herself was calm and self-possessed. Far from it; as little was she
self-acquitted. It was under the influence of a sudden suspicion
flashing across her mind--whence or how she knew not--that some
treachery was being planned, that she withdrew these documents from the
box. The expression of Hankes's look, as it rested on the casket, was
full of significance. It meant much, but of what nature she could not
read. The sudden way he had questioned her about Driscoll imparted a
link of connection between that man and the contents of the box, or part
of them; and what part could that be except what concerned the name of
Conway? If these were her impulses, they were more easily carried
out than forgiven, and in her secret heart she was ashamed of her own
distrust, and of what it led her to do.

"It would be a curious question at law," said Hankes, as he affixed the
third and last seal,--"a very curious question, who owns that box.
Not that its contents would pay for the litigation," added he, with
a mocking laugh; "but the property being sold this morning, with an
unsettled claim of Driscoll's over it, and the purchaser being still
undeclared,--for I suppose you bought it in for the Earl, or for Mr.
Dunn, perhaps--"

"No, sir, in my own name, and for myself, waiting Mr. Dunn's good
pleasure to confirm the sal