Now, then--where
did he get them? Who's at the back of him? Who--to be plain--who's
making a cat's-paw of him? Find that out, and we shall know who murdered
John Ashton!"
Viner, glancing at Lord Ellingham and at Mr. Carless, saw that Mr.
Pawle's words had impressed them greatly, the solicitor especially. He
nodded sympathetically, and Mr. Pawle went on speaking.
"Listen here, Carless!" he continued. "Mr. Viner and I have been
investigating this case as far as we could, largely to save a man whom we
both believe to be absolutely innocent of murder. I have come to certain
conclusions. John Ashton, many years ago, fell in with the missing Lord
Marketstoke, then living under the name of Wickham, in Australia, and
they became close friends. At some time or other, Wickham told Ashton the
real truth about himself, and when he died, left his little daughter--"
Carless looked sharply round.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "So there's a daughter?"
"There is a daughter, and her name is Avice--a name borne by a good many
women of the Cave-Gray family," answered Mr. Pawle with a significant
glance at his fellow-practitioner.
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