"The only person Mr. Brett is not acquainted with is my father," exclaimed David stiffly. "I was not alluding to him, of course. Indeed, I had no individual specially in my mind." "Surely you had some motive for your remark?" questioned David. "The only remaining relative is Mrs. Capella." "There again--how do you define the word 'relative.' I suppose, Mr. Brett, you are fairly well posted in the history of our house?" "Yes." "Well, has it never struck you that there was something queer about the manner of my Uncle Alan's marriage--Margaret's father, I mean?" "Perhaps. What do you know about it?" "Nothing definite. When I was a mid-shipman on board the _Northumberland_ I have a lively recollection of a fiendish row between a man named Somers and another officer who passed some chaffing remark about my respected uncle's goings on in Italy. The officer in question had forgotten, or never knew, that Sir Alan married Somers's sister--they were Bristol people, I think--but he stuck to it that Sir Alan had an Italian wife. He had seen her." Brett was driving, Frazer sitting by his side, and David leaning over the rail from the back seat. Had a bombshell dropped in their midst the two others could not have been more startled than by Robert's chance observation. "Good Heavens!" cried Hume, "why has Capella gone to Italy?" "That question may soon be answered," said Brett. "Was that one of the other reasons you hinted at in the library when telling us why you did not volunteer evidence at the trial?" he asked Robert. "It was. The cat is out of the bag now. I did not know where the affair might end, so I held my tongue. It also accounts for my unwillingness to meet Capella. I am very fond of Margaret. She is straight as a die, and I would not do anything to cause her suffering. In a word, I let sleeping dogs lie. If you can manage your matrimonial affairs without all this fuss, Davie, I should advise you to do the same." "What are you hinting at? What new mystery is this?" cried Hume. "Let us keep to solid fact for the present," interposed the barrister. "I wish I had met you sooner, Mr. Frazer. I would be nearing Naples now, instead of entering Stowmarket Have you any further information?" "None whatever. Even what I have told you is the recollection of a boy who did not understand what the row was about. Where does it lead us, anyhow? What is known about Capella?" "Very little. Unless I am much mistaken, he will soon tell us a good deal himself. I am beginning to credit him with the possession of more brains and powers of malice than I was at first inclined to admit. He is a dangerous customer." "Look here," exclaimed Robert angrily. "If that wretched little Italian annoys Margaret in any way I will crack his doll's head."