steady non-compliance of the man was
irritating.

"I think you need a lesson, Signor
Paolo Paoli," said Barletti, haughtily;
"you do not quite understand your
position in this household. I recommend you
to give up the key at once, and to refrain
from any attempt at insolence."

"Insolence, Signor Principe!" exclaimed
Paul, genuinely shocked at the accusation.
"Pardon, illustrissimo, I never was insolent
in my life. I know my duty to my
superiors. But—"

"The man has some scruple, some
hesitation, in giving up the key; is that it?"
asked Mr. Frost, who had been watching
both the interlocutors attentively.

"Yes, sir," replied Paul immediately, in
English. " I have a scruple. I humbly
demand the pardon of Prince Cesare, but
you see, sir, I was always a faithful
domestic of Sir John Gale. And Sir John
Gale left me, as I may say, in charge of
many things. Now, Prince Cesare
demands to have my master's will. Prince
Cesare" (Paul made a deferential bow in
Barletti's direction every time he
mentioned his name) " was doubtless a
respected friend of my master; but not a
brother, not a cousin, not a nephew, not
any relative at all, of my master."

"No; that is quite true, Paul," said Mr.
Frost, gently nodding his head.

"Well then, sir; you see, how can I give
up my master's testament to one who has
no right— you see, sir?"

"Paul's new-born nicety of scrupulous
honour would be diverting, if it were not
impertinent," said Veronica. Her eyes
sparkled, her cheeks were flushed, her face
had lost its dragged and weary lines.

Paul did not look at her, but he made a
little deprecating gesture with his head and
shoulders, and stood there with the mild,
melancholy obstinacy of a dumb beast.

"Pardon me," Mr. Frost put in. " Allow
me one moment! I must say that I respect
our friend Paul's scruples. But, Paul, a
proper and fit person to have possession of
Sir John Gale's will is his widow; is it
not?"

"His— widow, sir?"

"This lady, Lady Gale. It is on her
behalf that we wish to see the will. You
know the contents of it, do you not?"

"Not altogether, sir. I was at the other
end of the bedchamber when Sir John was
speaking to miladi and the Signor Principe,
and Sir John's voice was very low; very
low indeed, sir."

"But you had previously signed the will
as a witness, I am told."

"Yes, sir, I was witness; but my master
did not inform me what was in the will."

"And was there no other witness but
yourself?"

"There was yet another, sir. Sir John
did not like that any of his own servants
should be witness, so he told me to get a
loyal person to sign the testament. Sir
John wished he should be English, that
other person. So I found a man who had
brought horses here for a gentleman; and
this man was going back to England; and
before he went, I asked him one evening
to supper with me, and then Sir John
signed the testament, and I signed it, and
the other witness signed it. The man can
be found, sir. Sir John made him leave
his name and address in my care, and I
have them."

Every word that Paul uttered, fed
Veronica's rising indignation.

Barletti understood very little of what
was being said; but he watched Veronica's
face, and reflected its expression
unconsciously.

"Ha! Yes, yes: very systematic,"
muttered Mr. Frost. Then he asked aloud,
"How long is this ago, Paul?"

"About a fortnight ago, sir. The Signor
Principe may remember the date. It was
three days after the morning when I saw
him and miladi in the Villa Reale."

"Ah!" ejaculated Mr. Frost. " That's
decisive. A fortnight ago. There may,
however, be a codicil added later."

Veronica's mind was less impressed by
this fact than by the other one admitted by
Paul, that he had watched her and Barletti
in the Villa Reale.

"You have the audacity to confess—"
she broke out in high excitement. But Mr.
Frost stopped her.

"Pray, madam," he said, gravely, " do
not let us allow anger to enter into our
discussion of this matter."

There was a short silence.

At length Paul said bluntly, addressing
Mr. Frost: " Were you a friend of my
master's, sir? Did you know him well?"

"I am an English lawyer, Paul. My
name is Frost. You may have heard my
name mentioned here. You have, eh?
Well, I am that same Mr. Frost. I did
not know Sir John Gale personally, but
you may be sure that in allowing your
master's will to be inspected in my presence
you are running no risk of failing in your
duty."