'Well--but--consider again. What have you got to go upon? The story about Robert Fletcher may or may not be true. No one can tell after this lapse of time. The things were found by you lying in the old sea-chest with other things--all your own. Who was this Robert Fletcher? Where are his heirs? If they claim the property, and can prove their claim, give it up at once. If not, keep your own. The jewels are undoubtedly your own as much as the lace and the silks and the silver cups, which were all, I take it, recovered from wrecks.' 'Do you disbelieve my great-great-grandmother's story, then?' 'I have neither to believe nor to disbelieve. I say it isn't evidence. Your report of what she said, being then in her dotage, amounts to just nothing, considered as evidence.' 'I am perfectly certain that the story is true. The leathern thong by which the case hung round the man's neck has been cut by a knife, just as granny described it in her story. And there is the writing in the case itself. Nothing will persuade me that the story is anything but true in every particular.' 'It may be true. I cannot say. At the same time, the property is your own, and you would be perfectly justified in keeping it.' 'Mr. Jagenal'--Armorel turned upon him sharply--'you have found out Robert Fletcher's heir! I am certain you have. That is the reason why you are here this morning.' Mr. Jagenal laid upon the table a pocket-book full of papers. 'I will tell you what I have discovered. That is why I came here. There has been, unfortunately, a good deal of trouble in discovering this Robert Fletcher and in identifying one of the Robert Fletchers we did discover with your man. We discovered, in fact, ten Robert Fletchers before we came to the man who may reasonably be supposed---- But you shall see.' He opened the pocket-book, and found a paper of memoranda from which he read his narrative:--