He had passed out of my life completely, and I never knew what became of him." "He must be an eccentric person," said Mr.Watson, with a smile.
"He is." she acknowledged.

"But blood is thicker than water, Silas, and I'm glad brother John is here at last." A little later the lawyer left her and picked his way through the gardens until he came to Kenneth's wing and the stair that led to his room.

Here he paused a moment, finding himself surrounded by a profound stillness, broken only by the chirping of the birds in the shrubbery.

Perhaps Kenneth was not in.

He half decided to retrace his steps, but finally mounted the stair softly and stood within the doorway of the room.
The boy and a little stout man were playing chess at a table, and both were in a deep study of the game.