"
When the two callers had gone, Mr. Pawle turned to Viner.
"Now, my friend," he said, "you've already sent your own solicitor to
Hyde, haven't you? Who is he, by the by?"
"Felpham, of Chancery Lane," replied Viner.
"Excellent man! Now," said Mr. Pawle, "you go to Felpham and tell him
what these two Australians have just told us, and say that in my opinion
it will be well worth while, in his client's interest, to develop their
evidence for all it's worth. That theory of Fosdick's may have a great
deal in it. And another thing--Felpham must insist on Hyde being present
at the inquest tomorrow and giving evidence. That, I say, must be done!
Hyde must make his story public as soon as possible. He must be brought
to the inquest. He'll be warned by the coroner, of course, that he's not
bound to give any evidence at all, but he must go into the box and tell,
on oath, all that he told you and Drillford. Now be off to Felpham and
insist on all this being done."
Viner went away to Chancery Lane more puzzled than ever. What was this
secret affecting one of the first families in England, of which Ashton
had told his two Melbourne friends? How was it, if legal proceedings were
likely to arise out of it, that Ashton had not told Pawle about it? Was
it possible that he had gone to some other solicitor? If so, why didn't
he come forward? And what, too, was this mystery about Miss Wickham and
her father? Why, as Pawle had remarked, were there no papers or
documents, concerning her to be found anywhere? Had she anything to do
with the secret? It seemed to him that the confusion was becoming more
confounded.
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