As he gave this piece of information, he looked at Dr. Schwaryencrona as much as to say: 

“You can believe what you please, it is a matter of indifference to me.”

“From Inverness, perhaps?” suggested the doctor, still clinging to his favorite theory.

The stranger again hesitated for a moment.

“No, from Edinburgh,” he answered.  “But that is of no importance after all, and has nothing to do with the matter in hand.  I have an independent fortune and owe nothing to anybody.  If I tell you who I am, it is because it gives me pleasure to do so, for I am not obliged to do it.”

“Permit me to observe that I did not ask you,” said the doctor, smiling.

“No, but do not interrupt me, or we shall never reach the end of this matter.  You published an advertisement to find out what became of Patrick O’Donoghan, did you not?—­you therefore have some interest in knowing.  I know what has become of him.”

“You know?” asked the doctor, drawing his seat closer to that of the stranger.

“I know, but before I tell you, I want to ask you what interest you have in finding him?”

“That is only just,” answered the doctor.

In as few words as possible, he related Erik’s history, to which his visitor listened with profound attention.

“And this boy is still living?” asked Tudor Brown.

“Assuredly he is living.  He is in good health, and in October next he will begin his studies in the Medical University at Upsal.”

“Ah! ah!” answered the stranger, who seemed lost in reflection.  “Tell me,” he said at length, “have you no other means of solving this mystery of his birth except by finding Patrick O’Donoghan?”

“I know of no other,” replied the doctor.  “After years of searching I only found out that this O’Donoghan was in possession of the secret, that he alone could reveal it to me, and that is why I have advertised for him in the papers.  I must confess that I had no great hopes of finding him by this means.”

“How is that?”

“Because I had reasons for believing that this O’Donoghan has grave motives for remaining unknown, consequently it was not likely that he would respond to my advertisement.  I had the intention of resorting to other means.  I have a description of him.  I know what ports he would be likely to frequent, and I propose to employ special agents to be on the lookout for him.”

Dr. Schwaryencrona did not say this lightly.  He spoke with the intention of seeing what effect these words would produce on the man before him.  And as he watched him intently, he saw that in spite of the affected coolness of the stranger his eyelids fell and the muscles of his month contracted.  But almost immediately Tudor Brown recovered his self-possession, and said: 

“Well, doctor, if you have no other means of solving this mystery, except by discovering Patrick O’Donoghan, I am afraid that you will never find it out.  Patrick O’Donoghan is dead.”