“You are thinking me uncommon clever, getting on the track of George Gorton, when nothing on the surface connects him with the man wanted,” remarked the detective, with professional vanity.  “Came upon it accidentally; as well confess it; don’t want to assume more credit than’s due.  It was in this way.  Evening following your instructions, had to see managing clerk of Kedge and Reck; was engaged on a little matter for them.  Business over, he asked me if I knew anything of a man named George Gorton, or Gordon—­as I seemed to know something of pretty well everybody.  Having just been asked here about George Gordon, I naturally connected the two questions together.  Inquired of Kimberly why he suspected his clerk Gorton should be Gordon; Kimberly replied he did not suspect him, but a gentleman did, who had been there that day.  This put me on Gorton’s track.”

“And you followed it up?”

“Of course; keeping my own counsel.  Took it up in haste, though; no deliberation; went off to Calne, without first comparing notes with Gordon’s friend the surgeon.”

“To Calne!” explained Mr. Carr, while Lord Hartledon turned his head and took a sharp look at the speaker.

A nod was the only answer.  “Got down; thought at first as you do, Mr. Carr, that man was the same, and was on right track.  Went to work in my own way; was a countryman just come into a snug bit of inheritance, looking out for a corner of land.  Wormed out a bit here and a bit there; heard this from one, that from another; nearly got an interview with my Lord Hartledon himself, as candidate for one of his farms.”

“Lord Hartledon was not at Calne, I think,” interrupted Mr. Carr, speaking impulsively.

“Know it now; didn’t then; and wanted, for own purposes, to get a sight of him and a word with him.  Went to his place:  saw a queer old creature in yellow gauze; saw my lord’s wife, too, at a distance; fine woman; got intimate with butler, named Hedges; got intimate with two or three more; altogether turned the recent doings of Mr. Gorton inside out.”

“Well?” said Mr. Carr, in his surprise.

“Care to hear ’em?” continued the detective, after a moment’s pause; and a feeling crossed Mr. Carr, that if ever he had a deep man to deal with it was this one, in spite of his apparent simplicity.  “Gorton went down on his errand for Kedge and Reck, writ in pocket for Mr. Elster; had boasted he knew him.  Can’t quite make out whether he did or not; any rate, served writ on Lord Hartledon by mistake.  Lordship made a joke of it; took up the matter as a brother ought; wrote himself to Kedge and Reck to get it settled.  Brothers quarrelled; day or two, and elder was drowned, nobody seems to know how.  Gorton stopped on, against orders from Kimberly; said afterwards, by way of excuse, had been served with summons to attend inquest.  Couldn’t say much at inquest, or didn’t; was asked if he witnessed accident; said ‘No,’