Mr.Smeaton," he went on, as he had us both to the supper-table and began to help us to food, "here's news for you--for such news as it is affects you, I'm thinking, more than any man that it has to do with.

Mr.Ridley here has found out something relating to Michael Carstairs that'll change the whole course of events!--especially if we prove, as I've no doubt we shall, that Michael Carstairs was no other than your father, whom you knew as Martin Smeaton." Smeaton turned in his chair and looked at Mr.Ridley, who--he and Mr.
Lindsey having taken their supper before we got in--was sitting in a corner by the fire, eyeing the stranger from Dundee with evident and curious interest.
"I've heard of you, sir," said he.

"You gave some evidence at the inquest on Phillips about Gilverthwaite's searching of your registers, I think ?" "Aye; and it's a fortunate thing--and shows how one thing leads to another--that Gilverthwaite did go to Mr.Ridley!" explained Mr.
Lindsey.

"It set Mr.Ridley on a track, and he's been following it up, and--to cut matters short--he's found particulars of the marriage of Michael Carstairs, who was said to have died unmarried.

And I wish Portlethorpe hadn't gone home to Newcastle before Mr.Ridley came to me with the news." Tired as I was, and utterly heart-sick about Maisie, I pricked up my ears at that.