"At once!" he said. "Bring them straight in, Parkinson. God bless me!" he
exclaimed, turning to Viner. "Here are the two men in question--Fosdick
and Stephens! Saw our name in the paper as Ashton's solicitors and want
to see me urgently."




CHAPTER VII

WHAT WAS THE SECRET?


The two men who were presently ushered in were typical Colonials--big,
hefty fellows as yet in early middle age, alert, evidently prosperous, if
their attire and appointments were anything to go by, and each was
obviously deeply interested in the occasion of his visit to Mr. Pawle.
Two pairs of quick eyes took in the old solicitor and his companion, and
the elder of the men came forward in a businesslike manner.

"Mr. Pawle, I understand?" he said. "I'm Mr. Fosdick, of Melbourne,
Victoria; this is my friend Mr. Stephens, same place."

"Take a seat, Mr. Fosdick--have this chair, Mr. Stephens," responded Mr.
Pawle. "You wish to see me--on business?"

"That's so," answered Fosdick as the two men seated themselves by the
solicitor's desk. "We saw your name in the newspapers this morning in
connection with the murder of John Ashton. Now, we knew John Ashton--he