He opened it as he would open any
other cabinet or cupboard, by means of a key or by touching a spring.
You agree with me so far, Mr. Tallboys?"
"Certainly, Mrs. Conway. There can be no doubt in my mind that this
hiding-place, whether a chamber or a small closet, is opened in the
way you speak of."
"Very well then; all that has to be looked for is a spring. No force
is requisite; all that is to be done is to find the spring."
"Yes, but how is it to be found? I believe we tried every square foot
of the building."
"I have no doubt you did, but it will be necessary to try every square
inch, I will not say of the whole building, but of certain rooms and
passages. I think we may assume that it is not in the upper rooms or
servants' quarters. Such a hiding-place would be contrived where it
could be used by the owners of the house without observation from
their dependants, and would therefore be either in the drawing-room,
dining-room, the principal bed-chambers, or the passages, corridors,
or stairs between or adjoining these."
"I quite follow you in your reasoning, Mrs. Conway, and agree with
you. Doubtless, the place is so situated as to be what I may call
handy to the owners of the Hall, but I still do not see how you are
going to set about finding it."
"I am going to set about it by going to live at the Hall.
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