He led the way across the hall to the dining-room where a reminder of Ashton's death met his and Viner's view as soon as they had crossed the threshold. The funeral was to take place next day, and Mrs. Killenhall and Miss Wickham were contemplating a massive wreath of flowers which had evidently just arrived from the florist's and been deposited on the centre-table. "All we can do for him, you know!" murmured Mrs. Killenhall, with a glance at the two men. "He--he had so few friends here, poor man!" "That remark, ma'am," observed Mr. Pawle, "is apropos of a subject that I want to ask Miss Wickham two or three questions about. Friends, now? Miss Wickham, you always understood that Mr. Ashton and your father were very close friends, I believe?" "I always understood so--yes, Mr. Pawle," replied Miss Wickham. "Did he ever tell you much about your father?" "No, very little indeed. He never told me more than that they knew each other very well, in Australia, that my father died out there, comparatively young, and that he left me in his, Mr. Ashton's care." "Did he ever tell you whether your father left you any money?" demanded the old lawyer. Miss Wickham looked surprised. "Oh, yes!" she answered. "I thought you'd know that. My father left me a good deal of money. Didn't Mr. Ashton tell you?" "Never a word!" said Mr. Pawle. "Now--where is it, then?" "In my bank," replied Miss Wickham promptly. "The London and Universal. When Mr. Ashton fetched me away from school and brought me here, he told me that he had twelve thousand pounds of mine which my father had left me, and he handed it over to me then and there, and took me to the London and Universal Bank, where I opened an account with it." "Spent any of it?" asked Mr. Pawle dryly. "Only a few pounds," answered Miss Wickham. The old solicitor glanced at Viner, who, while these private matters were being inquired into, was affecting to examine the pictures on the walls. "Most extraordinary!" he muttered. "All this convinces me that Ashton must have had papers and documents! These must have been--however, we don't know where they are. But there would surely be, for instance, your father's will, Miss Wickham. I suppose you've never seen such a document? No, to be sure! You left all to Ashton. Well, now, do you remember your father?" "Only just--and very faintly, Mr. Pawle," replied Miss Wickham. "You must remember I was little more than five years old." "Can you remember what he was like?" "I think he was a big, tall man--but it's a mere impression." "Listen!" said Mr. Pawle. "Did you ever, at any time, hear Mr. Ashton make any reference--I'm talking now of the last few weeks--to the Ellingham family, or to the Earl of Ellingham?" "Never!" replied Miss Wickham. "Never heard of them. He never--" Mrs. Killenhall was showing signs of a wish to speak, and Mr. Pawle turned to her. "Have you, ma'am?" he asked.