At sight of him they stopped, and presently they were deep in the matter of the similarity of the handwritings, Mr.Lindsey having brought the letter and the will with him.

Deep, at any rate, Mr.
Lindsey and Mr.Portlethorpe were; as for Mr.Gavin Smeaton, he appeared to be utterly amazed at the suggestion which Mr.Lindsey threw out to him--that the father of whom he knew so little was, in reality, Michael Carstairs.
"Do you know what it is you're suggesting, Lindsey ?" demanded Mr.
Portlethorpe, suddenly.

"You've got the idea into your head now that this young man's father, whom he's always heard of as one Martin Smeaton, was in strict truth the late Michael Carstairs, elder son of the late Sir Alexander--in fact, being the wilful and headstrong man that you are, you're already positive of it ?" "I am so!" declared Mr.Lindsey.

"That's a fact, Portlethorpe." "Then what follows ?" asked Mr.Portlethorpe.

"If Mr.Smeaton there is the true and lawful son of the late Michael Carstairs, his name is not Smeaton at all, but Carstairs, and he's the true holder of the baronetcy, and, as his grandfather died intestate, the legal owner of the property! D'you follow that ?" "I should be a fool if I didn't!" retorted Mr.Lindsey.