"It is not a question of secrecy, but only of prudential reserve."

"It may be as you wish," answered the old man, carelessly. "Good-night."

He shook hands with his son, who departed without having broken bread in
his father's house, a little dashed by the coldness of his reception, but
not entirely without hope that some profit might arise to him out of this
connection in the future.

"The girl must be found," he said to himself. "I am convinced there has
been a great fortune made in that dingy hole. Better that it should go to
her than to a stranger. I'm very sorry she's married; but if this
Holbrook is the adventurer I suppose him, the marriage may come to
nothing. Yes; I must find her. A father returned from foreign lands is
rather a romantic notion--the sort of notion a girl is pretty sure to
take kindly to."




CHAPTER XV.

ON THE TRACK.


Gilbert Fenton saw no more of his friend John Saltram after that Sunday
evening which they had spent together in Cavendish-square. He called upon
Mrs. Branston before the week was ended, and was so fortunate as to find
that lady alone; Mrs. Pallinson having gone on a shopping expedition in