The
two documents just described by Mr. Perkwite had not been among the
papers which Methley and Woodlesford had exhibited at Carless &
Driver's office.
"A moment," said Mr. Pawle, lifting an arresting finger. "Did you happen
to notice where this marriage took place?"
"It was not in Melbourne," replied Mr. Perkwite.
"My recollection is that it was at some place of a curious name. Ashton
told me that Marketstoke's wife had been a governess in the family of
some well-to-do-sheep-farmer--she was an English girl, and an orphan. The
child, however, was certainly born in Melbourne and registered in
Melbourne."
"Now, that's odd!" remarked Mr. Pawle. "You'd have thought that when Lord
Marketstoke was so extensively advertised for some years ago, on the
death of his father, some of these officials--"
"Ah! I put that point to Ashton," interrupted Mr. Perkwite. "He said that
Marketstoke, though he had taken good care to be married in his own name
and had exercised equal precaution about his daughter, had pledged
everybody connected with his marriage and the child's birth to secrecy."
"Aye!" muttered Mr.
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