"You mean relating to what he'd told _us_?" said Fosdick. "Well, no more than I asked him sort of jokingly, how the secret was. And he said it was just about to come out, and we must watch the papers." "There was a remark he made," observed Stephens. "He said it would be of just as much interest, perhaps of far more, to our Colonial papers as to the English." "Yes--he said that," agreed Fosdick. "He knew, you see, that we were just about setting off home." "He didn't ask you to his house?" inquired Mr. Pawle. "That was mentioned, but we couldn't fix dates," replied Fosdick. "However, we told him we were both coming over again on business, next year, and we'd come and see him then." Mr. Pawle spread out his hands with a gesture of helplessness. "We're as wise as ever," he exclaimed. "No," said Fosdick emphatically, "wiser! The man had a secret, affecting powerful interests. Many a man's been put away for having a secret." Mr. Pawle put his finger-tips together and looked thoughtfully at his elder visitor. "Well, there's a good deal in that," he said at last. "Now, while you're here, perhaps you can tell me something else about Ashton. How long have you known him?" "Ever since we were lads," answered Fosdick readily. "He was a grown man, then, though. Stephens and I are about forty--Ashton was sixty." "You've always known of him as a townsman of Melbourne?" "That's so. We were taken out there when we were about ten or twelve--Ashton lived near where we settled down. He was a speculator in property--made his money in buying and selling lots." "Was he well known?" "Everybody knew Ashton." "Did you ever know of his having a friend named Wickham?" inquired Mr. Pawle with a side-glance at Viner. "Think carefully, now!" But Fosdick shook his head, and Stephens shook his. "Never heard the name," said Fosdick. "Did you ever hear Ashton mention the name!" asked Mr. Pawle. "Never!" "Never heard him mention it on board ship--when he was coming home?" "No--never!" "Well," said Mr. Pawle, "I happen to know that Ashton, some years ago, had a very particular friend named Wickham, out in Australia." A sudden light came into Fosdick's keen grey-blue eyes. "Ah," he said. "I can tell how that may be. A good many years ago, when we were just familiar enough with Melbourne to know certain people in it, I remember that Ashton was away up country for some time--as that cablegram says. Most likely he knew this Wickham then. Is that the Wickham mentioned there?" "It is," assented Mr. Pawle, "and I want to know who he was." "Glad to set any inquiries going for you when we get back," said Fosdick. "We sail in two days."