has failed in going to church. I have
seen the volumes there on the table in the parlour when I have been
with him. Did they search the books?"

"Had every volume off the shelves, sir."

"And opened every one of them?"

"That I can't tell. I wasn't there."

"Every volume should have been shaken," said Mr Apjohn.

"It's not too late yet, sir," said the clerk.

"But how are we to get in and do it? I have no right to go into his
house, or any man's, to search it."

"He wouldn't dare to hinder you, sir."

Then there was a pause before anything further was said.

"The step is such a strong one to take," said the lawyer, "when one
is guided only by one's own inner conviction. I have no tittle of
evidence in my favour to prove anything beyond the fact that the old
Squire in the latter days of his life did make a will which has not
been found. For that we have searched, and, not finding it, have been
forced to admit to probate the last will which we ourselves made.
Since that nothing has come to my knowledge. Guided partly by the
man's ways while he has been at Llanfeare, and partly by his own
manner and hesitation, I have come to a conclusion in my own mind;
but it is one which I would hardly dare to propose to a magistrate as
a ground for action."

"But if he consented, sir?"

"Still, I should be hardly able to justify myself for such intrusion
if nothing were found. We have no right to crush the poor creature
because he is so easily crushable. I feel already pricks of
conscience because I am bringing down Jack Cheekey upon him. If it
all be as I have suggested,--that the will is hidden, let us say in
some volume of sermons there,--what probability is there that he will
destroy it now?"

"He would before the trial, I think."

"But not at once? I think not. He will not allow himself to be driven
to the great crime till the last moment. It is quite on the cards
that his conscience will even at last be too strong for it."

"We owe him something, sir, for not destroying it when he first found
it."

"Not a doubt! If we are right in all this, we do owe him
something,--at any rate, charity enough to suppose that the doing of
such a deed must be very distasteful to him. When I think of it I
doubt whether he'll do it at all."

"He asked me why they didn't come and search again."

"Did he? I shouldn't wonder if the poor devil would be glad enough to
be relieved from it all. I'll tell you what I'll do, Ricketts. I