Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/178

 with which she supposed the Baron would be overwhelmed; but after a few moments' pause she heard him say in his usual bland voice:

"Ah! Bolland the solicitor—a clever man—so you have consulted him?"

"He was a great friend of my father's," said Rachel hurriedly, and still not looking round, "and you are always so busy, Uncle; so I have put all my affairs into his hands."

"Indeed! Well, you could not have done better," and still the voice sounded bland. "Then you may as well give me back that paper; he can be one of your witnesses when he has seen it."

Rachel was half inclined to keep it, but she reflected that, unsigned, it could do her no harm, whatever it could do to her Uncle, so she returned it to him. He seemed in no hurry to take it, and kept turning over the other papers that had been in his pocket; but impassive as were his looks, she observed that his hands trembled.

"Here is the paper, Uncle."