"Yes, I believe Mr. Pickering has not been able to
solve the problem," I said and laughed.
"But, of course, you and he will coöperate in an effort
to find the lost property."
She bent forward slightly; her eyes, as they met
mine, examined me with a keen interest.
"Why shouldn't I be frank with you, Sister Theresa?
I have every reason for believing Arthur Pickering a
scoundrel. He does not care to coöperate with me in
searching for this money. The fact is that he very
much wishes to eliminate me as a factor in the settlement
of the estate. I speak carefully; I know exactly
what I am saying."
She bowed her head slightly and was silent for a moment.
The silence was the more marked from the fact
that the hood of her habit concealed her face.
"What you say is very serious."
"Yes, and his offense is equally serious. It may
seem odd for me to be saying this to you when I am a
stranger; when you may be pardoned for having no
very high opinion of me."
She turned her face to me,-it was singularly gentle
and refined,-not a face to associate with an idea of
self-seeking or duplicity.
"I sent for you, Mr. Glenarm, because I had a very
good opinion of you; because, for one reason, you are
the grandson of your grandfather,"-and the friendly
light in her gray eyes drove away any lingering doubt
I may have had as to her sincerity. "I wished to warn
you to have a care for your own safety. I don't warn
you against Arthur Pickering alone, but against the
countryside. The idea of a hidden fortune is alluring;
a mysterious house and a lost treasure make a very enticing
combination. I fancy Mr. Glenarm did not realize
that he was creating dangers for the people he
wished to help."
She was silent again, her eyes bent meditatively upon
me; then she spoke abruptly.
"Mr. Pickering wishes to marry my niece."
"Ah! I have been waiting to hear that. I am exceedingly
glad to know that he has so noble an ambition.
But Miss Devereux isn't encouraging him, as near as
I can make out. She refused to go to California with
his party-I happen to know that."
"That whole California episode would have been
amusing if it had not been ridiculous. Marian never
had the slightest idea of going with him; but she is
sometimes a little-shall I say perverse?-"
"Please do! I like the word-and the quality!"
"-and Mr. Pickering's rather elaborate methods of
wooing-"
"He's as heavy as lead!" I declared.
"-amuse Marian up to a certain point; then they annoy
her. He has implied pretty strongly that the claim
against me could be easily adjusted if Marian marries
him. But she will never marry him, whether she benefits
by your grandfather's will or however that may be!"