"Good afternoon, sir," said the girl, sweetly; "can I do anything to assist you ?" West uttered an impatient exclamation and regarded Beth savagely.
"Is the house full of girls ?" he demanded.
"Oh, no; Patsy and I are quite alone," she replied, with a laugh.

"Come in, Patsy dear, and help me to entertain our guest," she added.
Patsy came through the window and stood beside her cousin.

The man stared at them, bit his lip, and then turned again to the cupboard.

If he noted the absence of the keys he did not remark upon the fact, but with hurried yet thorough examination began anew to turn over the bundles of papers.
Beth sat down and watched him, but Patsy remained standing behind her chair.

West emptied all the shelves, and then after a pause took out his pocket knife and began tapping with its end the steel sides of the cupboard.