"I never remember hearing my mother speak of anybody's character," said Harry with a smile. "She was a brilliant woman--she died, by the way, two or three years ago--but extravagant and fond of money. She prevailed on my brother to promise her the price of this property as a gift. The sum was considerable--about seven thousand pounds." Harry nodded. Here seemed to be some possible light on the reasons for the interview. "This money was to be paid--in gold--on a certain day. I speak now from information imparted to me subsequently by the Comtesse herself. It was given under a promise of secrecy which I have kept hitherto, but now find myself compelled in honesty to break." "There can be no question of what is your duty, Edge," Mr Neeld put in. "I think none. My brother during his illness discussed the matter with the Comtesse. The money was payable in Petersburg. He could not hope to be well enough to go there. At her suggestion he signed a paper authorizing payment to be made to her or to an agent appointed by her. The money being destined for her ultimately, this naturally seemed the best arrangement. She could go and receive the money, or send for it--as a fact she went in person when the time came--and all would be settled." "Quite so. And the transaction would not appear on the face of Sir Randolph's accounts or bank-book," Harry suggested. "It's possible that weight was given to that consideration too, but it is not very material. The Comtesse, then, was in possession of this authority. My brother's illness took a turn for the worse. To be brief, he died before the day came on which the money was to be paid." "And she presented the authority all the same?" asked Harry. "And got the money, did she?" "That is precisely the course she adopted," assented Colonel Edge. Harry took a walk up and down the room and returned to the hearthrug. "I'm very sensible of your kindness in coming here to-day," he said, "and your conduct is that of a man of honor. But at this point I'll stop you, please. I'm aware that _prima facie_ the law would pronounce me to be Sir Randolph's son. That has always been disclaimed on our side and could easily be disproved on yours. I have nothing to do with Sir Randolph Edge or his property." The Colonel listened unmoved. "In any case you would have nothing to do with my brother's property," he remarked. "He left a will by which I was constituted sole legatee." "Then if she robbed anybody she robbed you?" "Certainly; and three years later she came and told me so." "Then how in the world does it concern me?" cried Harry impatiently. "You put your finger on the spot, Mr Tristram, but you took it off again. You said she presented the authority all the same." "Yes. The authority would be revoked by his death. At least I suppose there's no question of that? Did she get at them before they heard of the death?"