Rose drew up a chair on one side of the big square writing-table, and signed to him to take the leather arm-chair where he had last seen Sir David Bright seated.  Mr. Murray plunged into his subject with an abruptness proportioned to the immense time he had taken during the morning in preparing a diplomatic opening.

“May I ask, first of all,” he said, “whether you have found any will, or any document looking like a will, besides the one I have with me?”

“No,” said Lady Rose in surprise, “there are no papers of any importance here, I believe; there is nothing in the house under lock and key.  Sir David gave me a few rings and studs to put away, but he never cared for jewellery, and there is nothing of value.”

“And do you think he can have executed any other will or written a letter that might be of use to us now?”

Rose looked still more surprised.  Mr. Murray held some papers in his hand that shook as if the wintry wind outside were trying to blow them away.  Rose tried not to watch them, and it teased her that she could not help doing so.  The hand that held them was not visible above the table.  Mr. Murray struggled to keep to the most absolutely business-like and unemotional side of his professional manner, but his obviously extreme discomfort was infectious, and Rose’s calm of manner was already disturbed.

“I cannot but think, Lady Rose, that some papers may be forwarded to you through the War Office.”  He hesitated.  “You had no marriage settlements?” he then asked abruptly.

“No, there were no settlements,” said Rose.  She spoke quickly and nervously.  “We did not think them necessary.  Sir David offered to make them, but just then he was ordered abroad and there was very little time, and my mother and I did not think it of enough importance to make us delay the wedding.  It was shortly after my father’s death.”  She paused a moment, and then went on, as if speech were a relief.

“You know that, when we married, Sir David had no reason to expect that he would ever be a rich man.  We hardly knew the Steele cousins, and only had a vague idea that Mr. John Steele had been making money on the Stock Exchange.  When he left his fortune to Sir David, who was his first cousin, and, in fact, his nearest relation, my mother did ask me if my husband intended to make his will.  More than once after that she tried to persuade me to speak to him about it, but I disliked the subject too much.”

Mr. Murray looked as if he wished that Lady Rose would go on talking; he seemed to expect more from her, but, as nothing more came, he made a great effort and plunged into the subject.

“The will I have here”—­he held up the papers as he spoke—­“was, in fact, made a few months after Sir David inherited Mr. John Steele’s large fortune, and there was no subsequent alteration to it, but this time last year we were directed to make a codicil to this will, and I was away at the time.  My brother, who is my senior partner, ventured to urge Sir David to make a new will altogether, but he declined.”