“I don’t care a rap for your information or its source,” the other interrupted, impatiently.  “The whole thing is simply preposterous.  The estate descended regularly to Hugh Mainwaring, and from him to our own family as next of kin.  You can see for yourself that to talk of any other claimants having prior rights is an utter absurdity.”

“Had not Hugh Mainwaring an elder brother?”

“He had; but you must be aware that he died a great many years ago.”

“But had that elder brother no issue?”

“None living,” Mr. Mainwaring replied, coldly.  Then added, in the same tone, “Even had there been, that fact would have no bearing on this case, Mr. Whitney.  The entire estate was transferred to Hugh Mainwaring by legal process before the death of his brother, he and his heirs having been forever disinherited, so that it is the same as though he had never existed.”

While he was speaking, the secretary entered the library, his pallor and unusual expression attracting Mr. Whitney’s attention.  In response to a glance of inquiry from the latter, however, he merely said,-

“The copy is completed.  You will find it on the desk,” and passed from the library into the hall.

Still wondering at his appearance, Mr. Whitney proceeded to the tower-room, and a moment later both gentlemen were absorbed in the perusal of the duplicate of the lost will; but afterwards the attorney recalled that, on taking the document from the desk, he had noticed that the large blotter covering the top had been removed and replaced by a new one.

There was no perceptible change in Scott’s appearance during the remainder of the day, except that he seemed more than usually thoughtful, sometimes to the verge of abstraction, but, in reality, his mind was so preoccupied with endless doubts and surmises regarding his recent discovery that he found it exceedingly difficult to concentrate his attention upon the work required of him.  That afternoon, however, while engaged in looking through some important documents belonging to Hugh Mainwaring, kept at the city offices, a cablegram was handed him, addressed to himself personally, from Barton & Barton, a well-known legal firm in London.  The despatch itself caused him little surprise, as he had been in correspondence with this firm for more than a year; but the contents of the message were altogether unexpected, and left him in a state of bewilderment.  It read,-

“Have you met J. Henry Carruthers, of London, supposed to have sailed ten days since, or can you give us his whereabouts?”

Fortunately, Scott was alone, Ralph Mainwaring and the attorney being in the private offices, and he had plenty of opportunity to recover from his surprise.  For half an hour he revolved the matter in his thoughts, wondering whether this had any bearing upon the question which for the last few hours he had been trying to solve.  A little later he sent the following reply: