“In London!” she interrupted.

“He was in London last autumn, as I believe—­living there.”

An expression of relief passed over her features that was quite perceptible to Lord Hartledon.

“I should not like to hear of his coming near us,” she sighed, dropping her voice to a whisper.  “London:  that’s pretty far off.”

“I suppose you are anxious to bring him to justice, Mrs. Gum?”

“No, sir, not now; neither me nor Gum,” shaking her head.  “Time was, sir—­my lord—­that I’d have walked barefoot to see him hanged; but the years have gone by; and if sorrow’s not dead, it’s less keen, and we’d be thankful to let the past rest in peace.  Oh, my lord, don’t rake him up again!”

The wild, imploring accents quite startled Lord Hartledon.

“You need not fear,” he said, after a pause.  “I do not care to see Gordon hanged either; and though I want to trace his present abode—­if it can be traced—­it is not with a view to injuring him.”

“But we don’t know his abode, my lord,” she rejoined in faint remonstrance.

“I did not suppose you knew it.  All I want to ask your husband is, to give me a description of Gordon.  I wish to see if it tallies with—­with some one I once knew,” he cautiously concluded.  “Perhaps you remember what the man was said to be like?”

She put her fingers up to her brow, leaning her elbow on the table.  He could not help observing how the hand shook.

“I think it was said that he had red hair,” she began, after a long pause; “and was—­tall, was it?—­either tall or short; one of the two.  And his eyes—­his eyes were dark eyes, either brown or blue.”

Lord Hartledon could not avoid a smile.  “That’s no description at all.”

“My memory is not over-good, my lord:  I read his description in the handbills offering the reward; and that’s some time ago now.”

“The handbills!—­to be sure!” interrupted Lord Hartledon, springing from his perch.  “I never thought of them; they’ll give me the best description possible.  Do you know where—­”

The conference was interrupted by the clerk.  He came in with a large book in his hand; and a large dog, which belonged to a friend, and had followed him home.  For a minute or two there was only commotion, for the dog was leaping and making friends with every one.  Lord Hartledon then said a few words of explanation, and the quiet demeanour of the clerk, as he calmly listened, was in marked contrast to his wife’s nervous agitation.

“Might I inquire your lordship’s reasons for thinking that Gordon came back?” he quietly asked, when Lord Hartledon had ceased.

“I cannot give them in detail, Gum.  That he did come back, there is no doubt about whatever, though how he succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the police, who were watching for him, is curious.  His coming back, however, is not the question:  I thought you might be able to give me a close description of him.  You went to Liverpool when the unfortunate passengers arrived there.”