Billy knows a case where a man touched a
spring and found thirty thousand dollars in a secret drawer, 'and from
there,' as Billy says, 'he fled to Australia.' So you can see it's been
thought of. Of course I've never spoken of it, because I promised Billy
not to,--but there's nothing in it."
"Bosh!" said Solon.
"Of course it's bosh. I could have told Billy that, but some way I
always feel tender about his illusions. You may be sure I've learned
enough of the Lansdale family to know that no member of it ever hid any
real money--money that would _spend_--and there hasn't been a will
missing for at least six generations."
"Bosh again!" said Solon. "It isn't secret drawers!"
"No? What then?"
"Well,--it's worse--and more of it."
"Is that all you have to say?" I asked as he stood up.
"Well, that's all I can say now. We must use common sense in these
matters. But--Mrs. Potts has written!" With this cryptic utterance he
stalked out.
There had been little need to caution me to secrecy. I was not tempted
to speak. Had I known any debtor of Miss Caroline's who would have taken
"Mrs. Potts has written" in payment of his account, it might have been
otherwise.
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