"You think something was kept in it at Palkeney Manor?" I suggested.
"Probably," he assented. "That's just about what I do think."
"And that the original thief has stolen whatever it was?"
"Just so! The box may have passed through several hands before it came into Parslewe's. Parslewe no doubt picked up this thing in some curio shop—the books, too."
"Have the people of Palkeney Manor any idea as to how the theft occurred?" I asked.
"None!—according to Sperrigoe. But I understand that Palkeney Manor is a sort of show-place. That is, there are certain rooms which are shown to the public, including the library. A shilling fee is charged on certain mornings of the week—the proceeds are given to the local charities. And, of course, Sperrigoe thinks that this box and the books were stolen by some visitor only just before old Mr. Matthew Palkeney's death. So—there we are! All that's wanted now is—a few words from Parslewe."
He then said he must go, and presently we went down the stair and out into the court-
