’To condense a long story, sir, the kernel of the matter is, that almost from the hour I began to stir for the purpose of claiming my rights—­which are transparent enough this old gentleman—­certainly from no sinister motive, I may presume—­commenced the payment of an annuity; not sufficient for my necessities, possibly, but warrant of an agreeable sort for encouraging my expectations; although oddly, this excellent old Mr. Bannerbridge invariably served up the dish in a sauce that did not agree with it, by advising me of the wish of the donator that I should abandon my Case.  I consequently, in common with my friends, performed a little early lesson in arithmetic, and we came to the one conclusion open to reflective minds—­namely, that I was feared.’

My aunt Dorothy looked up for the first time.

‘Janet and I have some purchases to make,’ she said.

The squire signified sharply that she must remain where she was.

‘I think aunty wants fresh air; she had a headache last night,’ said Janet.

I suggested that, as my presence did not seem to be required, I could take her on my arm for a walk to the pier-head.

Her face was burning; she would gladly have gone out, but the squire refused to permit it, and she nodded over her crossed hands, saying that she was in no hurry.

‘Ha!  I am,’ quoth he.

‘Dear Miss Beltham!’ my father ejaculated solicitously.  ’Here, sir, oblige me by attending to me,’ cried the squire, fuming and blinking.  ’I sent for you on a piece of business.  You got this money through a gentleman, a solicitor, named Bannerbridge, did you?’

‘His name was Bannerbridge, Mr. Beltham.’

‘Dorothy, you knew a Mr. Bannerbridge?’

She faltered:  ’I knew him ....  Harry was lost in the streets of London when he was a little fellow, and the Mr. Bannerbridge I knew found him and took him to his house, and was very kind to him.’

‘What was his Christian name?’

I gave them:  ‘Charles Adolphus.’

‘The identical person!’ exclaimed my father.

‘Oh! you admit it,’ said the squire.  ’Ever seen him since the time Harry was lost, Dorothy?’

‘Yes,’ she answered.  ’I have heard he is dead: 

‘Did you see him shortly before his death?’

’I happened to see him a short time before!

‘He was your man of business, was he?’

‘For such little business as I had to do.’

‘You were sure you could trust him, eh?’

‘Yes.’

My aunt Dorothy breathed deeply.

‘By God, ma’am, you’re a truthful woman!’

The old man gave her a glare of admiration.

It was now my turn to undergo examination, and summoned by his apostrophe to meet his eyes, I could appreciate the hardness of the head I had to deal with.

’Harry, I beg your pardon beforehand; I want to get at facts; I must ask you what you know about where the money came from?’