The more Brett thought out the complexities of the affair, the more excited he became, and the longer and more rapid were his strides up and down the length of his spacious sitting-room. This was his only outward sign of agitation. When thinking deeply on any all-absorbing topic, he could not remain still. He felt obliged to cast away physical as well as mental restriction on the play of his imagination, and he would at times pace back and forth during unrecorded hours in the solitude of his apartments, finally awakening to a sense of his surroundings by reason of sheer exhaustion. He was not destined to reach this ultimate stage on the present occasion. With a preliminary cough--for the discreet Smith was well versed in his master's peculiarities--his servant announced the appearance of the Earl of Fairholme. Brett looked at his watch, and was caught in the act by his visitor. "Yes, I know we fixed on seven o'clock," cried the impetuous young peer, "but I was simply dying to hear the result of your inquiries thus far, and I ventured to call an hour earlier." The barrister explained that he sought to learn the time as a matter of mere curiosity. "Indeed," he added, "your appearance at this juncture is particularly welcome. I want to ask you many things concerning Mr. Talbot." "Fire away," said Fairholme. "I'm no good at spinning a yarn, but I can answer questions like a prize boy in a Sunday-school." "Well, in the first instance, have you known him many years?" "We were at school together at Harrow. Then I entered the Army whilst he had a University career. My trustees made me give up the Service when I succeeded to the estates, and about the same time Jack entered the Foreign Office. That is three years ago. We have seen each other constantly since, and, of course, when I became engaged to his sister our friendship became, if anything, stronger." "Nothing could be more admirably expressed. Do you know anything about his private affairs?" "Financially, do you mean?" "Well, yes, to begin with." "He got a salary, I suppose, from Government, but he has a private income of some thousands a year." "Then he is not likely to be embarrassed for money?" "Most unlikely. He is a particularly steady chap--full of eagerness to follow a diplomatic career and that sort of thing. Why, he would sooner read a blue-book than the _Pink 'Un_!" "If you were told that he had bolted with a nondescript young woman, what would you say?" "Say!" vociferated Fairholme, springing up from the seat into which he had subsided, "I would tell the man who said so that he was a d----d liar!"