I replied
that I had at the time when application was made to the courts for leave
to presume Lord Marketstoke's death.
"Thereupon, pledging me to secrecy for the time being, Ashton went on
to tell me that Lord Marketstoke was well known to him and that he
alone knew all the facts of the matter, though a certain amount of them
was known to another man, now living in London. He said that
Marketstoke, after a final quarrel with his father, left England in
such a fashion that no one could trace him, taking with him the fortune
which he had inherited from his mother, and eventually settled in
Australia, where he henceforth lived under the name of Wickham.
According to Ashton, he and Marketstoke became friends, close friends,
at a very early period of Marketstoke's career in Australia, and the
friendship deepened and existed until Marketstoke's death some twelve
or thirteen years ago. But Ashton never had the slightest notion of
Marketstoke's real identity until his friend's last days. Then
Marketstoke told him the plain truth; and the fact who he really was at
the same time was confided to another man--who, however, was not told
all the details which were given to Ashton.
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