“I am; and that one or two of your letters purported to show that the missing will was destroyed by Hugh Mainwaring.”

“Did I make any such allegation?”

“Not directly; but your allusions and references would be clear to any one having a knowledge of the English statutes.”

Hobson started, and inquired quickly, “Are you familiar with English law?”

“I made myself familiar with your citations and references in this case.”

“I see; you have indeed made a study of the case.  Well, Mr. Scott, permit me to say that I accused Hugh Mainwaring of nothing which he had not previously confessed to me himself.  Have you any knowledge concerning that will, — its terms or conditions, or the names of the testator or beneficiaries?”

“There was nothing in the correspondence to give any clue to those particulars.  I could only gather that Hugh Mainwaring had defrauded others and enriched himself by destroying this will.”

Hobson looked relieved.  “Without doubt, he did; but allow me to call your attention to one point, Mr. Scott.  You see how little actual knowledge you have of this affair.  There are others — Mrs. LaGrange, for instance, and the mysterious individual whom she heard conversing with Mr. Mainwaring on the night of the murder, — all of whom know as much or more than you; and while this meagre knowledge of the case might perhaps have been sufficient to bring to bear upon Mainwaring himself, personally, it would have little or no weight with those with whom we would now have to deal.  You know nothing of the terms of the will, or of the persons named as beneficiaries, whom, consequently, Hugh Mainwaring defrauded.  You have no proof that he destroyed the will.  In fact, my dear young friend, you could produce no proof that such a document ever existed at all!”

“Do I understand you, then, that those letters, Mr. Mainwaring’s included, would not be regarded as proof?” Scott asked, with well-feigned surprise.

“Not of themselves with these people; I know them too well.”  Hobson shook his head decidedly, then continued, in oracular tones, “Remember, I am only speaking of your chances with them.  Mainwaring’s letters were very guarded, mine scarcely less so.  They would have no weight whatever with men like Ralph Mainwaring or William Thornton.  They might even charge you with forging the whole thing.  The point is just this, Mr. Scott:  in order to be able to get anything from these parties you must have complete data, absolute proof of every statement you are to make; and such data and proofs are in the possession of no one but myself.  So you see I am the only one who can assist you in this matter.”

“And what compensation would you demand for ‘assisting’ me?”