Such a hiding-place would be contrived where it could be used by the owners of the house without observation from their dependants, and would therefore be either in the drawing-room, dining-room, the principal bed-chambers, or the passages, corridors, or stairs between or adjoining these." "I quite follow you in your reasoning, Mrs.Conway, and agree with you.

Doubtless, the place is so situated as to be what I may call handy to the owners of the Hall, but I still do not see how you are going to set about finding it." "I am going to set about it by going to live at the Hall." "Going to live at the Hall, Mrs.Conway! But how is that possible under the circumstances?
You are, I should say, the last person whom the Miss Penfolds would at present invite to take up her residence there." "I agree with you, if they had any idea of my identity; but that is just what I intend they shall not have.

My plan is to go there in the capacity of a servant.

Once there I shall examine, as I say, every square inch of the rooms and places where this hiding-place is likely to exist.

Every knob, knot, or inequality of any kind in the wood-work and stone-work shall be pressed, pulled, and twisted, until I find it.
I am aware that the task may occupy months or even years, for, of course, my opportunities will be limited.