other thing--those confounded jewels. But I won't talk about them
now."

It was not indeed till three or four days later that the Colonel
again spoke to his brother on any than ordinary matters. He had
indeed been very weak and ailing. After breakfast, when, as usual,
he was a little stronger and brighter than later in the day, he
said to his brother suddenly:--

"I suppose there are no hiding places in this room?"

"Hiding places! What do you mean, George?"

"Places where a fellow could hide up and hear what we are talking
about."

"No, I don't think so," the Squire replied, looking round vaguely.
"Such an idea never occurred to me. Why do you ask?"

"Because, John, if there is such a thing as a hiding place, someone
will be sure to be hiding there. Where does that door lead to?"

"It doesn't lead anywhere; it used to lead into the next room, but
it was closed up before my time, and turned into a cupboard, and
this door is permanently closed."

"Do you mind stepping round into the next room and seeing if anyone
is in the cupboard?"

Thinking that his brother was a little light headed, John Thorndyke