science that she would carry out this new plan in her own
way and time. She was master of the situation, and saw before her a
future of almost unlimited opportunity and splendor, except for one
little obstacle. That obstacle was Mr. Mavick. She believed that she
understood him thoroughly, but she could not take the next step until
she had seen him. It was true that no one except herself positively knew
that a second will now existed, but she did not know how much he might
choose to remember.

She was very impatient to see Mr. Mavick. She wandered about the house,
restless and feverish. Presently it occurred to her that it would be
best to take the will wholly into her own keeping. She unlocked the
desk, took it out with a trembling hand, but did not open it again. It
was not necessary. A first reading had burned every item of it into her
brain. It seemed to be a sort of living thing. She despised herself for
being so agitated, and for the furtive feeling that overcame her as she
glanced about to be sure that she was alone, and then she ran up stairs
to her room and locked the document in her own writing-desk.

What was that? Oh, it was only the door-bell. But who could it be?
Some one from the office, from her lawyer? She could see nobody. In
two minutes there was a rap at her door. It was only the servant with a
despatch. She took it and opened it without haste.

"Very well, Dobson; no answer. I expect Mr. Mavick on business at ten. I
am at home to no one else."

At ten o'clock Mr. Mavick came, and was shown into the library, where
Carmen awaited him.

"It was very good of you to come," she said, as she advanced to meet
him and gave him her hand in the natural subdued manner that the
circumstances called for.

"I took the first train after I received your despatch."

"I am sorry to inconvenience you so," she said, after they were seated,
"but you know so much of Mr. Henderson's affairs that your advice will
be needed. His will is to be proved tomorrow."

"Yes?" said Mavick.

"I went to see--Mr. Sage today, and he went with me to the office. The
will was in the safe. I did not read it, but Mr. Sage said that it left
everything to me except a few legacies."

"Yes?"

"He said it should be proved tomorrow, unless a later will turned up."

"Was there a later will?"

"That is what he did not know. He had drawn a new will about a year
ago, but he doubted if it had ever been executed. Mr. Henderson was
conside