cause he did not wish me to. I put it in my dressing-case, which
always stands on my dressing-table, and I placed it in the secret
drawer. The drawer is empty, and the paper gone. I was to give it to
his son when he returned, and I promised to keep it safely. I cannot
imagine what can have become of it! What shall I do? I wonder how any
one could have found it. It is a perfect mystery to me!'

'You must have forgotten where you put it,' said Clare; 'let me come
and look. It is quite impossible for any one to have stolen it.'

But Clare's search was quite as unsuccessful as Agatha's, and the
latter became almost tearful in her agitation and distress.

'Mr. Alick Lester will be sure to call, and it was his father's wish he
should open the cupboard. How can he do it, when I have lost the
directions?'

'Is that all the packet contained?' asked Clare, looking relieved. 'I
had no idea you possessed the key to it! How quiet you have kept it!
And now I will surprise you by telling you that I have found out myself
the way to open that cupboard, so am quite independent of any written
instructions!'

Agatha certainly was surprised, and though thankful when Clare related
her experience to her, did not feel more at ease.

'I have been careless of my charge,' she said. 'What will Mr. Alick
think of me? And it is alarming to think that some one has got
possession of the secret. They may have opened the cupboard already,
for all I know, or may be going to do it this very night. I wonder if
our maids are to be trusted! Perhaps Jane has been tampering with my
case.'

'I am sure she wouldn't. You don't walk in your sleep, do you?'

Agatha gave a little laugh.

'No, you know I do not. I remember looking at it only a week ago, and
putting it carefully back again.'

'Was any one in the room when you did it?'

'No--at least Jane came in, I remember, for she startled me, but she
would never know what it was.'

There was silence; then Agatha said more slowly, 'It does look rather
suspicious, now I have remembered about Jane, because she has been such
friends lately with Major Lester's valet. You know she always walks
home from church with him. Elfie was laughing about it, and saying she
had soon picked up a follower.'

'I don't see the connection between those two threads,' said Clare,
'unless you think Major Lester is a thief himself!'

'I don't know what I think,' said Agatha hopelessly, sitting down on a