And we then pointed out to him that now that Mr.Michael Carstairs was dead, Mr.Gilbert came next--he would get the title, in any case--and we earnestly pressed Sir Alexander to make a will.

And he was always going to, and he never did--and he died intestate, as you know.

And at that, of course, Sir Gilbert Carstairs came forward, and--" "A moment," interrupted Mr.Lindsey.

"Did anybody know where he was at the time of his father's death ?" "Nobody hereabouts, at any rate," replied Mr.Portlethorpe.

"Neither his father, nor his sister, nor ourselves had heard of him for many a long year.