"Yes, your eldest sister, Leslie."

"No, Mr. Parker; she is with her friends, the Chetwynds. One of the girls is very ill, and the other won't do without Leslie."

"I'm not specially surprised at that," said the merchant. "She seems the sort of girl one would rely on a good bit; but that is not what I have come about. See here, Llewellyn, have you got a letter of your sister's handy?"

"A letter! What do you mean?" said Llewellyn,

"Just what I say. I want to see one of your sister's letters."

"But I don't understand," said Llewellyn.

"And I don't want you to understand, my boy. I want you just to exercise a little bit of faith in your father's old friend, and not to say a single word to your mother about this. Now, go and find some letters of your sister's. When you have found them, I want you to put a couple of them into my care. If they contain any secrets you may trust me not to blab; but this is a serious matter, and there is more in it than meets the eye. There, my boy, just do what you are told."

"Of course I have got several of Leslie's letters," answered Llewellyn.

"I think there are a few which do not contain anything of a private nature. I will give you one or two, sir, with pleasure."

Llewellyn left the room, returning presently with a packet of letters kept together with an elastic band.

"There," he said, "you can have them all, sir. I have not even looked at them. Leslie is as open as the day, and there is nothing in her letters that you may not see."

"As open as the day-eh? You really think so. She's not a bit secretive, now?"

"Secretive! My sister?" said Llewellyn, drawing himself up and flushing angrily.

"There, don't get peppery. I'm very much obliged to you. You shall have these letters back again in a day or two at the farthest."

"But are you going, Mr. Parker?"

"Yes; I must hurry back to town as fast as ever I can. Now, good-by to you; but hark, Llewellyn, not a word of this to your mother."

"Certainly not, if you do not wish it, sir; but I fail to understand."

"You must have faith, my boy. You will know all sooner or later."

With the letters in his pocket, Mr. Parker went straight off to Scotland Yard. There he had an interview with Chief-Inspector Jones, got the address of a special expert of handwriting, and drove off to the man's house.

Mr. Ess.e.x was in, and Mr. Parker had a short, emphatic interview with him.

"Well, sir." he said finally, "you quite understand. You will examine the letters, and let me know the result to-morrow morning."

Mr. Ess.e.x promised, and the merchant went away.

"Now," he said to himself, "if this is a little game which some good people are trying to hide from Charles Parker they will quickly find themselves in the wrong box."

CHAPTER x.x.xII

WHO HAS TAKEN THE KEY?

Punctual to the hour, and in a suitable evening dress, Rupert Colchester appeared at the Achesons' house. Mrs. Acheson received him with her usual kindness. She was alone in the room when the young man happened to put in an appearance.

"Do you know," she said, "that I am quite glad to have an opportunity of seeing you by yourself. I am not at all happy about your sister."

"Indeed," replied Rupert, putting on a sympathetic and very interested air. "Be sure of this, that anything you may happen to say to me about Annie will have my most tender consideration and my deepest interest.

Annie and I are practically alone in the world. What is wrong with the dear girl?"

"She is very far from well; that I can see," replied Mrs. Acheson. "She is also very much depressed, unnaturally so; and do you know, Mr.

Colchester, that she did not know anything about your appointment in the Civil Service. She was amazed when I told her you were going to India."

"Ah!" said Rupert, thoughtfully tapping the back of his heel against the bra.s.s rail of the fireplace, "I felt sure she would feel it dreadfully.

The fact is, up to the present I have not dared to break the news to her, she is so intensely affectionate. Of course I intended to do so to-night. Now that you have done so, it is a great relief to me. She will not feel it so dreadfully after a little; and I know I can buoy her up with hope, for my intention is that she shall join me in a year or two. She shall be my housekeeper until she enters a good home of her own. I could not think of marrying until my dear Annie had a home of her own."

"I felt certain that you had a good motive in keeping the important news back from her," replied innocent Mrs. Acheson; "and I respect you all the more for your consideration."

Just at that instant Belle and Annie entered the room. Belle wore her best dress. It was not much to look at; but something very great and uncommon must have induced her to put it on. It was made of soft black silk, and had ruffles of lace round the neck and wrists. She wore also a very narrow gold chain round her neck. When Rupert spoke to her, Belle found herself blushing.

Dinner was announced. Mrs. Acheson asked him to take her daughter down, and she herself conducted Annie to the dining-room. Annie had made no attempt to improve her appearance; she sat, feeling shy and uncomfortable, scarcely opening her lips, while Rupert carried the conversation his own way. He was a clever man, and he contrived on the present occasion to make himself quite brilliant. He talked about India, spoke of the liner in which he was going out; turned aside to Annie to say, "I will explain everything to you, my dear, presently"; told good stories about his early life in America, and then about his education in London; and managed to delight both Mrs. Acheson and Belle by the peep he gave them into a world which they had never entered. His manners to Belle were all that could be desired. He was extremely courteous and deferential and managed to convey a touch of admiration which was never unduly obtrusive. Such a strong effect did he have upon her that she forgot her beloved cla.s.sics as she listened to him.

The meal came to an end, and when the ladies rose Rupert accompanied them to the drawing-room.

"No wine for me, thanks," he said. "I am practically a teetotaler." He then drew a chair near Belle's side, and contrived to draw her into a literary conversation of deep interest.

Annie felt on thorns as she watched the two. More firmly each moment was she making up her mind. If Rupert dared to ask Belle to lend him any of the money in the wooden box she would confess all. She felt herself a hypocrite, and could scarcely stand Mrs. Acheson's kind and affectionate remarks.

At last the slow evening came to an end. By this time Rupert had perambulated almost every foot of the drawing-room. He had stood close to the box-once his hand had touched it. It was when he was looking at Belle's precious Greek Testament which lay on top of it. Rupert quoted a few sentences out of the Testament in his melodious voice to Belle, who nodded and praised his accent. He then went and stood in the deep embrasure of the window, looked out at the moon, which threw its radiance over the garden outside, and all of a sudden, without the least warning, began to talk of burglars.

"This is a very nice house," he said; "but with that garden at the back it is not too safe; and you have no men on the premises, have you?"

"No," said Belle; "but I don't understand what you mean."

"Well, I have the greatest dread of burglars breaking into a house inhabited only by women."

"Oh, we are not at all afraid," replied Belle. "Who would burgle here?

We have no special valuables; a very little silver, no more. Besides, the windows are all thoroughly secured."

She showed the device of the latch to Rupert, who said it was clever, very ingenious indeed. A moment or two afterwards he took his leave. As he did so, he nodded to Annie.

"See you to-morrow, little sis," he said. "Cheer up about India, old girl; you shall come and join me by and by.-Good-by, Mrs. Acheson; I cannot tell you how I have enjoyed my evening."

To Belle he did not say a word about his special enjoyment; but he gave her a look full of eloquence. She found herself blushing, and her heart beat a trifle quicker than its wont.

When the hall-door closed behind him, both ladies were eloquent in his praise.

"A charming fellow, and what a nice expression!" said Mrs. Acheson.

"He is a clever, which is better than being a charming, man," said Belle; "he has a great and sincere respect for all learning. In his way he is an enthusiast. I do not care for conversation with men as a rule; but I must own that I respect Mr. Colchester, and enjoy talking to him.