"Gentlemen," said Mr. Pawle, "allow me to ask you a few questions."

"Many as you please, sir," assented Fosdick. "We'll answer anything."

"He didn't tell you what the secret was?" asked Mr. Pawle.

"No. He said we'd know more about it in time," replied Fosdick. "It
would possibly lead to legal proceedings, he said--in that case, it would
be one of the most celebrated cases ever known."

"And romantic," added Stephens, speaking for the first time. "Romantic!
That was the term he used."

"And romantic--quite so," assented Fosdick. "Celebrated and
romantic--those were the words. But in any case, he said, whether it got
to law matters or not, it couldn't fail to be in the papers, and we
should read all about it in due time."

"And you know no more than that?" inquired Mr. Pawle.

"Nothing!" said Fosdick with decision.

Mr. Pawle looked at Viner as if to seek some inspiration. And Viner took
up the work of examination.

"Do you know anything of Mr. Ashton's movements since he came to
London?" he asked.

"Next to nothing," replied Fosdick. "Ashton left the _Maraquibo_ at