Mrs. Conway had not been twenty-four hours in the house before she
discovered there was an obstacle in the way of her search that she had
not foreseen. She had dusted the drawing-room and dining-room, and
then went to the door of the room which she supposed to be the
library. She found it locked. At dinner she asked the other housemaid
what the room opposite the dining-room was, and where was the key.
"That was master's library," the girl said. "Miss Penfold always keeps
it locked, and no one is allowed to go in. It's just as he left it; at
least Martha said so, for I have never been inside since. On the first
day of each month it is opened and dusted. Miss Penfold always used to
go in with Martha and stay there while she did the work. She said it
was to see that nothing was moved, but Martha used to think there was
another reason."
"What is that?" Mrs. Conway asked.
Jane shook her head and glanced at the butler, as much as to say she
did not care about speaking before him; but presently when she had an
opportunity of talking alone with the newcomer she said: "I didn't
want to say anything before James, he holds with the Miss Penfolds. He
only came a month or two before master's death and did not know much
about him, and he will have it they have been ill treated, and that
the lawyer and all of them ought to be punished for going on as if the
Miss Penfolds had done something wrong about the will.
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