Of course, this will, when it was executed, was
to all appearance so much waste paper, but within three years from
that date Charles II. was King of England.
"Thereon Geoffrey Dofferleigh produced the document, and on assuming
the name and arms of de la Molle actually succeeded in obtaining the
remains of the Castle and a considerable portion of the landed
property, though the baronetcy became extinct. His son it was who
built this present house, and he is our direct ancestor, for though my
father talks of them as though they were--it is a little weakness of
his--the old de la Molles are not our direct male ancestors."
"Well," said Harold, "and did Dofferleigh find the treasure?"
"No, ah, no, nor anybody else; the treasure has vanished. He hunted
for it a great deal, and he did find those pieces of plate which you
saw to-night, hidden away somewhere, I don't know where, but there was
nothing else with them."
"Perhaps the whole thing was nonsense," said Harold reflectively.
"No," answered Ida shaking her head, "I am sure it was not, I am sure
the treasure is hidden away somewhere to this day. Listen, Colonel
Quaritch--you have not heard quite all the story yet--/I/ found
something."
"You, what?"
"Wait a minute and I will show you," and going to a cabinet in the
corner, she unlocked it, and took out a despatch box, which she also
unlocked.
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