"Or--incorrect!" answered Mr. Carless with an admonitory laugh. "I should say--at present, tell her nothing. Let us find out all we can from her; there are several questions I should like to ask her, myself, arising out of what you have told us. Leave all the rest until a later period. If your theory is correct, Pawle, it can be established, if it isn't, the girl may as well be left in ignorance that you ever raised it." "Until three o'clock, then," said Mr. Pawle. Three o'clock found the old lawyer and Viner pacing the pavement of Lincoln's Inn Fields in expectation of Miss Wickham's arrival. She came at last in the taxicab which Mr. Pawle had sent for her, and her first words on stepping out of it were of surprise and inquiry. "What is it, Mr. Pawle?" she demanded as she shook hands with her two squires. "More questions? What's it all about?" Mr. Pawle nudged Viner's arm. "My dear young lady," he answered in grave and fatherly fashion, "you must bear in mind that a man's life is in danger. We are doing all we can to clear that unfortunate young fellow Hyde of the dreadful charge which has been brought against him, and to do that we must get to know all we can about your late guardian, you know." "I know so little about Mr. Ashton," said Miss Wickham, looking apprehensively at the building towards which she was being conducted. "Where are you taking me?" "To a solicitor's office--friends of mine," answered Mr. Pawle. "Carless and Driver--excellent people. Mr. Carless wants to ask you a few questions in the hope that your answers will give us a little more light on Ashton's history. You needn't be afraid of Carless," he added as they began to climb the stairs. "Carless is quite a pleasant fellow--and he has with him a very amiable young gentleman, Lord Ellingham, of whom you needn't be afraid, either." "And why is Lord Ellingham, whoever he may be, there?" inquired Miss Wickham. "Lord Ellingham is also interested in your late guardian," replied Mr. Pawle. "In fact, we are all interested. So now, rub up your memory--and answer Mr. Carless' questions." Viner remained in the background, quietly watching, while Mr. Pawle effected the necessary introductions. He was at once struck by what seemed to him an indisputable fact--between Lord Ellingham and Miss Wickham there was an unmistakable family likeness. And he judged from the curious, scrutinizing look which Mr. Carless gave the two young people as they shook hands that the same idea struck him--Mr. Carless wound up that look in a significant glance at Mr. Pawle, to whom he suddenly muttered a few words which Viner caught. "By Jove!" he whispered. "I shouldn't wonder if you're right." Then he placed Miss Wickham in an easy-chair on his right hand, and cast a preliminary benevolent glance on her. "Mr. Pawle," he began, "has told us of your relationship with the late Mr. Ashton--you always regarded him as your guardian?"