by his close scrutiny; I assumed that he regarded superciliously my rustic appearance in the best clothes I had; realising my confusion, p. 49he said, laughing, “Forgive me, Mr. Craike, I marvel only that a lady of your mother’s intelligence should ever have thought to keep your kinship to the Craikes a secret.”

p. 49

“She has left me, sir, very much in the dark,” I told him. “A week since I was John Howe. To-day I am John Craike and ride with you. I do not understand your interest in me.”

“Mr. Craike,” he said, leaning towards me, “if you have your father’s look, you have a little of your mother’s, too. I esteem highly her prudence and intelligence. And, sir, your likeness to your mother encourages me to be frank and open with you, realising that, whatever passes between us is said in confidence,—I, acting in your interest, and in the interest of Mr. Edward Craike, whose adviser I have the honour to be.”

“To be sure, sir, I ask for frankness, and pledge my word of honour to you.”

He said earnestly, “Mr. Craike, in serving your interest I believe that I shall best serve the interest of my client. I purpose, to be sure, to take you to London and prepare you for presentation to your grandfather. I purpose to accompany you to his house. You are by no means assured of a welcome from him; you are assured only of the hostility of your Uncle p. 50Charles,—your mother’s enemy—and mine! Ay,—and mine! I have a purpose in promoting your interests. I have the purpose of keeping from the inheritance of a great estate—Charles Craike!”

p. 50

“A great estate!”

“No great acreage, but wealth such as few commoners in England own. I would keep this from the hands of Charles Craike, knowing that if it pass to him, it becomes a force for evil, surely it becomes.”

“Why?”

He answered swiftly, “A week or more from now, Mr. Craike, you’ll know Charles Craike. Judge for yourself.”

“But from where did my grandfather derive his fortunes?” I asked, remembering my mother’s words after Mr. Bradbury had left her that night at the cottage. “By trade, or as an inheritance?”

I believed that his eyes flickered and that he hesitated. He answered glibly, “The fruits, Mr. Craike, of his own industry.”

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