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Carless pursed his lips for a moment as if he were never going to open them again; then he suddenly relaxed them. "I tell you what it is, gentlemen!" he said. "I'm only anticipating matters in saying what I'm going to say, and I'm saying it because I feel sure you are quite sincere and genuine in this affair and are being deceived.
Cave produced a small pocket diary and turned over its pages. "I can tell you that," he answered. "I made a note of it at the time. It was yes, here we are on the twenty-first of November." "And you received these papers, I think you said, two days later?" "Yes on the twenty-third. Here is the entry." Mr. Carless looked round at the assembled faces.
"It was a shooting accident," continued Mr. Carless. "He was out shooting in the park at Ellingham when a boy of fourteen or fifteen; he was using an old muzzle-loading gun; it burst, and he lost his second finger the right hand. It was, of course, very noticeable.
"Oh, no! they only told me of them," answered Lord Ellingham. "They said, of course, that they would be shown to me, or to Mr. Carless." "Aye!" muttered Mr. Pawle. "Just so! Yes, and they will have to be shown!" "That follows as a matter of course," observed Mr. Carless. "But now, Pawle, we come to the real point of the case.
Carless, by way of introduction. "Portlethwaite, you remember the Lord Marketstoke who disappeared some thirty-five years ago?" Mr. Portlethwaite smiled. "Quite well, Mr. Carless!" he answered. "As if it were yesterday. He used to come here a good deal, you know." "Do you think you'd know him again, Portlethwaite, after all these years?" asked Mr. Carless. "Thirty-five years, mind!"
If you will bring your client here, there are three of us in this office who, as my old clerk has just reminded me, can positively identify him on the instant if he is the man he claims to be. Positively, I say, and at once! There!" "May one ask how?" said Woodlesford. "No!" exclaimed Mr. Carless. "Bring him!
Cave handed the letter over, and once more it was passed from hand to hand: finally it fell into the hands of Miss Penkridge, who began to examine it with obvious curiosity. "Afraid there's nothing to be got out of that!" sighed Mr. Carless. "The rogues were cunning enough to typewrite the message if there'd been any handwriting, now, we might have had a chance!
Methley's compliments, and if agreeable to you, he can bring his client on to see you this afternoon at once, if convenient." Mr. Carless looked at Mr. Pawle, and Mr. Pawle nodded a silent assent. "Tell Mr. Methley it's quite agreeable and convenient," answered Mr. Carless. "I shall be glad to see them both at once. Um!" he muttered when the clerk had withdrawn. "Somewhat sudden, eh, Pawle?
Carless firmly, "and I may as well tell you at once that if you prove to us that you are, your nephew, who now holds title and estates, will at once relinquish both. There will be no bargaining. It is all or nothing. Our client, whom we know as Earl of Ellingham, is not going to traffic. If you are what you claim to be, you are head of the family and must take your place."
"Much obliged to you," he said. "Now, at what time are these miscreants to be put in the dock tomorrow? Ten sharp? Then," he declared, with a shrewd glance, "I shall be there and in all my experience I shall never have set eyes on a worse scoundrel than the chief one of 'em! Now, gentlemen, shall we go?" Outside, Mr. Carless took Lord Ellingham's arm.
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