human
There! Tom exclaimed after half-an-hour's labour,
gpt
Whoever wrote it was about to leave here to offer something to somebody, and if he did not return, apparently he is giving directions, in this paper, which he tears in to two or three parts, how to discover--a treasure?--jewels and money, I guess,--that he is about to hide or has hidden in a secret chamber, which is entered in some way from the Oak Parlour--? ... pushes a spring,--Something to do with the hand of the lady in the picture, near the chimney on the north side of the room ... then a panel which reveals ...where? ... the directions will be found, for getting the treasure, in a golden chest in the secret chamber? How's that for a version? I reckon the other half doesn't tell as much ...'ançois de Boisdhyver!--That can't be the Marquis, for none of his names end 'ançois; do they? Let's see, what are they?--Marie, Anne, Timélon, Armand ... Tom, --and Dan faced his friend excitedly,--
human
Pretty much what you do. Somebody sometime,--a good many years ago, concealed some valuables here in the Inn. It must be some one who is connected with our marquis, for the last names are the same. These are directions, or half the directions, for finding it. The Marquis knows enough about it to have been hunting for this paper. Who the devil is the Marquis?
gpt
The Lord knows. But how does Nance come in?
human
Blamed if I can see; wish I could! This accounts for the Marquis's mysterious investigations, anyway. Probably he's no right to the paper. Maybe he isn't a Boisdhyver at all. I'll be damned if I can understand how he has got Nance to league with him.
gpt
And now what the deuce are we going to do about it?
human
Hunt for the treasure ourselves, eh?
gpt
Well, why not? but to do that we've got to get rid of the Marquis. He'll be suspicious if we begin to poke about the north wing. Hanged if I wouldn't like to have it all out with him!
human
Yes, but we'd better think and talk it over before we decide to do anything. We can watch them. We'll watch to-night any way, and plan something definite to-morrow.
gpt
I tell you one thing, Tom, I am going to make Mother tell me all she knows about Nancy. Perhaps she is mixed up in some way with all this. But it's time to keep watch now. We'll put out the candles and I'll watch for the first two hours. If you go to sleep, I'll wake you up to take the next turn. How about it?
human
Hang sleep!
gpt
All right, but we must blow out the light. Lucky it's clear. Let's whisper after this.