“You will understand now, Miss Carleton, why I took the position of private secretary to Hugh Mainwaring.  You will realize how eagerly I studied the correspondence between him and Richard Hobson, from which I learned that the latter was extorting large sums of money as the price of his silence regarding some fraudulent transaction, presumably the destruction of the will; and perhaps you can imagine my feelings on discovering, one day, among Hugh Mainwaring’s private papers, a memorandum to the effect that the will had never been destroyed, but was still in existence and in his possession.  I knew that to make any demand upon him for the document would be worse than useless, as he would never admit my claim.  I must find it for myself.  I searched for that will as for hidden treasure, and, Miss Carleton, I found it!”

“Oh!” she exclaimed, unable to repress her emotion, “I am so glad!  Do tell me how and when!”

“I found it on the last day of Hugh Mainwaring’s life, within two hours after he had signed his own last will and testament.”

“What a strange coincidence!”

“It was strange; and it was my discovery on that day which formed the subject of my thoughts on the following night, the night of the murder, and which kept me pacing my room until three o’clock in the morning.”

“Did Mr. Mainwaring know of your discovery?”

“No; I had no opportunity to see him that evening until too late, even if I had chosen to broach the subject to him at that time.”

“Might he not have discovered in some way that you had found the will?”

“I think not.  Why do you inquire?”

“It only occurred to me if it might not be possible that he had reason to think his secret had at last been discovered, and, rather than face the consequences, committed suicide; but it seems improbable.  But to think that you are the son of the one whom I have always considered the noblest of all the Mainwarings, and that you, and not Hugh, are the rightful heir to the old Mainwaring estate!  I am more than glad, and Hugh will be glad also.  He will not begrudge you one shilling or have one unkind thought towards you, though I cannot say the same for his father.”

“Hugh is a noble-hearted fellow,” said Harold, warmly.  “He has promised me his friendship, and I believe he will stand by it.”

He spoke briefly of his plans; of his business in London for a few days; and, when the will should have been probated in the English court, of his return to America to establish his claim there.

“Mr. Mainwaring,” said Miss Carleton, after a pause, “I am inexpressibly glad to learn what you have told me, and you have my sincerest wishes for your immediate success.  I appreciate, more than I can tell, your confidence in permitting me to be the first to know of your good fortune.  May I be the first to congratulate you?”

He took the proffered hand; but, looking into the beautiful eyes sparkling with happiness, his own face grew serious, as he replied,-