remains of the Castle and a considerable portion of the landed
property, though the baronetcy became extinct. His son it was who
built this present house, and he is our direct ancestor, for though my
father talks of them as though they were--it is a little weakness of
his--the old de la Molles are not our direct male ancestors."

"Well," said Harold, "and did Dofferleigh find the treasure?"

"No, ah, no, nor anybody else; the treasure has vanished. He hunted
for it a great deal, and he did find those pieces of plate which you
saw to-night, hidden away somewhere, I don't know where, but there was
nothing else with them."

"Perhaps the whole thing was nonsense," said Harold reflectively.

"No," answered Ida shaking her head, "I am sure it was not, I am sure
the treasure is hidden away somewhere to this day. Listen, Colonel
Quaritch--you have not heard quite all the story yet--/I/ found
something."

"You, what?"

"Wait a minute and I will show you," and going to a cabinet in the
corner, she unlocked it, and took out a despatch box, which she also
unlocked.

"Here," she said, "I found this. It is the Bible that Sir James begged
might be sent to his son, just before they shot him, you remember,"
and she handed him a small brown book. He took it and examined it
carefully. It was bound in leather, and on the cover was written in