Carrington heaved a sigh of relief. "That makes things easier, anyhow. We can take our own time to work out the case. Have you found the will?"
"No. I haven't seen a sign of it. I intend to look again this afternoon, and you can assist me if you care to."
"Oh, yes. Four hands are better than two, and two searchers better than one, Hendle. And if the will isn't found?"
"Well, I suppose things will remain as they are."
"Don't you make any mistake, Hendle," replied the barrister shrewdly. "Mallien won't stop until he gets that will."
"I don't mind. In fact, I told him that he could help me look for it."
Carrington frowned. "I hope I won't be brought into contact with him. He's such a rude beast."
"Well, after our quarrel of yesterday. I don't think he'll put in an appearance," said Hendle consolingly. "Anyhow, whether he does or not matters little. Our business is to find the will, and thus knock Mallien's possible accusation on the head."
"As you please, what must be, must be. Miss Mallien is a charming girl, but if marriage with her meant a father-in-law like that boor I should cry off."
"Ah, you are not in love, you see," said Rupert calmly; "besides, when we are married, we will see very little of Mallien. I am bribing him with five hundred a year to make himself scarce. As he doesn't care a cent for his daughter, he will probably agree to clear out."
"Not before he has had a try to get the whole of your money," said Carrington dryly. "The man is a shark, and a sponge, and a greedy animal."
"Why call him names, Carrington? He is Dorinda's father after all, so it is best to leave him alone."
"He won't leave you alone," retorted the other. "I wonder you can be so calm over the matter, Hendle."
Rupert cast a side-look of surprise at the flushed dark face of his companion. "I am quite innocent, so why shouldn't I be calm?"
"Hum!" growled the barrister. "Innocent men have been hanged before now."
"Well, this innocent man won't be hanged, Carrington. No one can prove that I was near the Vicarage on that night."
"Probably not. But you had every motive to go there and get the will, seeing that it may render you a pauper."
"If I am to be a pauper I must become a pauper," replied Rupert coolly; "but I certainly would never attempt to save myself from poverty by murdering an old man who was my friend."