"
"I dare say we shall all see a good deal of your client before this
matter is settled, Mr. Methley," retorted Mr. Carless. "And even when I
have seen a lot of him, I should still say the same--he _may_ have stolen
them! What else has he to prove that he's what he says he is?"
"He is fully conversant with his family history," said Woodlesford. "He
can give a perfectly full and--so far as we can judge--accurate account
of his early life and of his subsequent doings. He evidently knows all
about Ellingham Hall, Marketstoke and the surroundings. I think if you
were to examine him on these points, you would find that his memory is
surprisingly fresh."
"I have no doubt that it will come to his being examined on a great many
points and in much detail," said Mr. Carless with a dry smile. "Of
course, I shall be much interested in seeing him. You see, I remember the
missing Lord Marketstoke very well indeed--he was often in here when I,
as a lad of nineteen or twenty, was articled to my own father. And now,
gentlemen, I'll ask you a question and commend it to your intelligence
and common sense: if your client is this man he claims to be, why didn't
he come straight to Carless and Driver, whom he would remember well
enough, instead of going to Methley and Woodlesford? Come, now?"
Neither visitor answered this question, and Mr.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219