"No," said the doctor; "I am disappointed."
"I will try," she said, and she passed her white, slender fingers over the ornamental part of the bureau.
As she did so, there was a sudden click, and before them all the secret drawer glided out.
Violet started, then bent down and examined it.
There was only an old, faded piece of parchment.
"There is no locket here," she said. "Only this," and she laid the paper on the table. "Will you please put the papers where they were--and--and--close the room again?"
"You are chilled," said the doctor. "There is a draught here from that broken window," and he pointed to the window, in which a pane was broken.
He had quite forgotten that slight evidence of his dark deed.
"A bat or an owl has flown against it," he said. "Let me take you downstairs, Miss Mildmay."
"One moment," said Mr. Thaxton. "With your permission, I will glance at this document; it should be of some importance, so carefully preserved."
"A lease, or something of the sort," muttered the lawyer, putting on his spectacles and taking up the parchment. "Ah!" he exclaimed, suddenly, looking up and scanning the faces all round with a look of surprise.
"What is the matter?" said Mrs. Mildmay, nervously.
"Have you any idea as to what this paper may be?" he asked Violet.
"This," said the lawyer, tapping the document, "is a codicil to your father's will, signed"--here he glanced at the last page--"by him, legally and in due form."
There was a general expression of surprise.
Mr. Thaxton thought for a moment, with the document in his hand.
"I am glad there were so many present at the finding of the deed, and I think I will take the precaution of sealing it in your presence. May I ring for sealing-wax and paper?"
He rang the long silent bell, and a servant, at his request, brought the required articles.
Then, with due formality, the man of law folded the document and sealed it, using a seal of Violet's for the purpose.
"Now," he said, looking at his watch, "as it is important and only reasonable that we should learn the contents, I should recommend that Mr. Beal, the solicitor at Tenby, be telegraphed for. I would rather that another legal adviser as well as myself were present at the reading.