Mr. Pawle has just said. This man was certainly with Mr. Ashton at a
tavern in Notting Hill from about nine-thirty to ten-thirty on the
evening of Ashton's death. In fact, they left the tavern together."

The young nobleman suddenly pulled open a drawer in his desk, produced a
box of cigarettes and silently offered it to his visitors. He lighted a
cigarette himself, and for a moment smoked in silence--it seemed to Viner
that his youthful face had grown unusually grave and thoughtful.

"Mr. Pawle," he said at last, "I'm immensely surprised by what you've
told me, and all the more so because this is the second surprise I've had
this afternoon. I may as well tell you that the two gentlemen whom you
saw going away just now brought me some very astonishing news--yours
comes right on top of it! And, if you please, I'd rather not say any
more about it, just now, but I'm going to make a proposal to you. Will
you--and Mr. Viner, if he'll be so good--meet me tomorrow morning, say at
noon, at my solicitors' offices?"

"With pleasure!" responded Mr. Pawle. "Your lordship's solicitors are--"

"Carless and Driver, Lincoln's Inn Fields," answered Lord Ellingham.

"Friends of ours," said Mr. Pawle. "We will meet your lordship there at
twelve o 'clock to the minute."

"And--you'll bring that with you?" suggested Lord Ellingham, pointing to
the packet of letters which Mr. Pawle held in his hand.

"Just so, my lord," assented Mr. Pawle. "And we'll be ready to tell all
we know--for there are further details."