Fosdick and Stephens,
d'ye see, were only on a visit,--which is just coming to an end, Mr.
Pawle; we sail home in a day or two,--but Ashton was turning home for
good. And he said to us, in a sort of burst of confidence, that he'd have
plenty to do when he landed. He said that he was in possession--sole
possession--of a most extraordinary secret, the revelation of which would
affect one of the first families in England, and he was going to bring it
out as soon as he'd got settled down in London. Well--you may be
surprised, but--that's all."
"All you can tell?" exclaimed Mr. Pawle.
"All! But we can see plenty in it," said Fosdick. "Our notion is that
Ashton was murdered by somebody who didn't want that secret to come out.
Now, you see if events don't prove we're right."
"Gentlemen," said Mr. Pawle, "allow me to ask you a few questions."
"Many as you please, sir," assented Fosdick. "We'll answer anything."
"He didn't tell you what the secret was?" asked Mr. Pawle.
"No. He said we'd know more about it in time," replied Fosdick. "It
would possibly lead to legal proceedings, he said--in that case, it would
be one of the most celebrated cases ever known.
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