’If you knew how many ladies in her position would think that the heavens had rained wealth upon them if some one would give them fifteen hundred pounds!’

’Very well.  At any rate I won’t take it away from her.  And now I want you to tell me something else.  Do you remember a fellow we used to know named Berdmore?’

‘Philip Berdmore?’

’He may have been Philip, or Daniel, or Jeremiah, for anything I know.  But the man I mean was very much given to taking his liquor freely.’

’That was Jack Berdmore, Philip’s brother.  Oh yes, I remember him.  He’s dead now.  He drank himself to death at last, out in India.’

‘He was in the army?’

’Yes and what a pleasant fellow he was at times!  I see Phil constantly, and Phil’s wife, but they never speak of Jack.’

‘He got married, didn’t he, after we used to see him?’

Oh yes he and Phil married sisters.  It was a sad affair, that.’

’I remember being with him and her and the sister too, after they were engaged, and he got so drunk that we were obliged to take him away.  There was a large party of us at Richmond, but I don’t think you were there.’

‘But I heard of it’

‘And she was a Miss Vigo?’

’Exactly.  I see the younger sister constantly.  Phil isn’t very rich, and he’s got a lot of children but he’s very happy.’

’What became of the other sister?

‘Of Jack’s wife?’

‘Yes.  What became of her?’

’I haven’t an idea.  Something bad, I suppose, as they never speak of her.’

‘And how long is he dead?’

’He died about three years since.  I only knew it from Phil’s telling me that he was in mourning for him.  Then he did speak of him for a moment or two, and I came to know that he had carried on to the end in the same way.  If a fellow takes to drink in this country, he’ll never get cured in India.’

‘I suppose not.’

‘Never.’

‘And now I want to find out something about his widow.’

‘And why?’

’Ah I’m not sure that I can tell you why.  Indeed I’m sure that I cannot.  But still you might be able to assist me.’

‘There were heaps of people who used to know the Vigos,’ said the lawyer.

’No end of people though I couldn’t for the life of me say who any of them were.’

’They used to come out in London with an aunt, but nobody knew much about her.  I fancy they had neither father nor mother.’

‘They were very pretty.’

’And how well they danced.  I don’t think I ever knew a girl who danced so pleasantly giving herself no airs, you know as Mary Vigo.’

‘Her name was Mary,’ said Belton, remembering that Mrs Askerton’s name was also Mary.

‘Jack Berdmore married Mary.’

’Well now, Joe, you must find out for me what became of her.  Was she with her husband when he died?’