This last question he asked aloud, being still at the window, he saw Rupert open the little garden gate and walk briskly up to the door. As Dorinda had gone one way and Rupert had come another, Mallien never dreamed that there was any understanding between them, or that his daughter had departed so as to afford her lover a chance of speaking to her very egotistic parent. This had been arranged between the two on the previous day, and to carry out the scheme Hendle knocked at the door of his cousin with the will in his pocket. Before he left the cottage he was determined to force Mallien into plain speaking. Things were much too dangerous to permit any further beating about the bush.
"Well, and what do you want?" said Mallien, repeating his former question as he opened the door to the visitor.
"I want to see you," said Hendle very pointedly. "It is time we had an explanation."
"About this," and Rupert pulled the soiled and crumpled parchment out of his pocket--"the will of John Hendle."
"Oh! So you have it. And how did you get it, may I ask?"
"You can ask in your own room," said Rupert politely. "I can scarcely give you an explanation on the door-step."
"Afraid of consequences to yourself," grumbled Mallien, nevertheless yielding so far as to lead the way into his sanctum.
"Oh, dear me, no," replied the visitor, seating himself. "Afraid of consequences to you."
"To me!" Mallien dropped into a chair before his desk. "What do you mean?"
"I don't," said the man doggedly and determined to leave all necessary explanation to his cousin. "You speak in riddles."
"We must solve them together." Rupert spoke dryly, then thrust the will under Mallien's nose, "Read that, and tell me what you think."
Out of sheer contrariety the host would have refused, but his curiosity and greed got the better of him, and he eagerly read the document to learn if indeed the Hendle property would come to him. The Squire leaned back in his chair, filling his pipe and watching the various emotions expressing themselves on Mallien's face. Doubt, amazement, satisfaction and exultation all appeared in turn, and when he had mastered the will, he looked at Rupert with an expression of triumph. Mallien felt that he was top-dog at last, and took a malicious delight in emphasizing the agreeable position.