Now, pretty nearly everybody in Wrychester who knows them, knows that there's a mystery about Dr.
Ransford and his two wards--it's been talked of, no end, amongst the old dowagers and gossips of the Close, particularly--you know what they are! Miss Bewery herself, and her brother, young Dick, in a lesser degree, know there's a mystery.

And if there's one man in the world who knows the secret, it's Ransford.

And, up to now, Ransford won't tell--he won't even tell Miss Bewery.

I know that she's asked him--he keeps up an obstinate silence.

And so--I determined to find things out for myself." "Aye--and when did you start on that little game, now, doctor ?" asked Mitchington.