"No," said Fosdick emphatically, "wiser! The man had a secret, affecting
powerful interests. Many a man's been put away for having a secret."

Mr. Pawle put his finger-tips together and looked thoughtfully at his
elder visitor.

"Well, there's a good deal in that," he said at last. "Now, while you're
here, perhaps you can tell me something else about Ashton. How long have
you known him?"

"Ever since we were lads," answered Fosdick readily. "He was a grown man,
then, though. Stephens and I are about forty--Ashton was sixty."

"You've always known of him as a townsman of Melbourne?"

"That's so. We were taken out there when we were about ten or
twelve--Ashton lived near where we settled down. He was a speculator in
property--made his money in buying and selling lots."

"Was he well known?"

"Everybody knew Ashton."

"Did you ever know of his having a friend named Wickham?" inquired Mr.
Pawle with a side-glance at Viner. "Think carefully, now!"

But Fosdick shook his head, and Stephens shook his.

"Never heard the name," said Fosdick.