But he called on us within twenty-four hours of his father's death." "With proof, of course, that he was the man he represented himself to be ?" asked Mr.Lindsey.
"Oh, of course--full proof!" answered Mr.Portlethorpe.

"Papers, letters, all that sort of thing--all in order.

He had been living in London for a year or two at that time; but, according to his own account, he had gone pretty well all over the world during the thirty years' absence.

He'd been a ship's surgeon--he'd been attached to the medical staff of more than one foreign army, and had seen service--he'd been on one or two voyages of discovery--he'd lived in every continent--in fact, he'd had a very adventurous life, and lately he'd married a rich American heiress." "Oh, Lady Carstairs is an American, is she ?" remarked Mr.Lindsey.
"Just so--haven't you met her ?" asked Mr.Portlethorpe.
"Never set eyes on her that I know of," replied Mr.Lindsey.

"But go on." "Well, of course, there was no doubt of Sir Gilbert's identity," continued Mr.Portlethorpe; "and as there was also no doubt that Sir Alexander had died intestate, we at once began to put matters right.
Sir Gilbert, of course, came into the whole of the real estate, and he and Mrs.Ralston shared the personalty--which, by-the-by, was considerable: they both got nearly a hundred thousand each, in cash.
And--there you are!" "That all ?" asked Mr.Lindsey.
Mr.Portlethorpe hesitated a moment--then he glanced at me.
"Moneylaws is safe at a secret," said Mr.Lindsey.