fused?"
"Then I think I would make bold to insist on remaining there while
you went to a magistrate. I have indeed already prepared Mr Evans of
Llancolly, who is the nearest magistrate. I would refuse to leave
the room, and you would then return with a search warrant and a
policeman. But as for opening the special book or books, I could do
that with or without his permission. While you talk to him I will
look round the room and see where they are. I don't think much of it
all, Mr Brodrick; but when the stake is so high, it is worth playing
for. If we fail in this, we can then only wait and see what the
redoubtable Mr Cheekey may be able to do for us."
Thus it was settled that Mr Brodrick and Mr Apjohn should go out to
Llanfeare on the following morning.
CHAPTER XX
Doubts
"I know nothing about it," Cousin Henry had gasped out when asked
by Mr Apjohn, when Ricketts, the clerk, had left the room, whether
he knew where the will was hidden. Then, when he had declared he had
nothing further to say, he was allowed to go away.
As he was carried back in the fly he felt certain that Mr Apjohn
knew that there had been a will, knew that the will was still in
existence, knew that it had been hidden by some accident, and knew
also that he, Henry Jones, was aware of the place of concealment.
That the man should have been so expert in reading the secret of his
bosom was terrible to him. Had the man suspected him of destroying
the will,--a deed the doing of which might have been so naturally
suspected,--that would have been less terrible. He had done nothing,
had committed no crime, was simply conscious of the existence of a
paper which it was a duty, not of him, but of others to find, and
this man, by his fearful ingenuity, had discovered it all! Now it was
simply necessary that the place should be indicated, and in order
that he himself might be forced to indicate it, Mr Cheekey was to be
let loose upon him!
How impossible,--how almost impossible had he found it to produce a
word in answer to that one little question from Mr Apjohn! "Nor know
where it is hidden?" He had so answered it as to make it manifest
that he did know. He was conscious that he had been thus weak, though
there had been nothing in Mr Apjohn's manner to appal him. How would
it be with him when, hour after hour, question after question should
be demanded of him, when that cruel tormentor should stand there
glaring at him in presence of a
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