not be deceived!" he added with strong emphasis on the personal pronoun, accompanied by a complacent chuckle. "Even a point-blank denial would not satisfy me! No dust will be thrown in my eyes!"
"You were fully acquainted with the circumstances of thirty years ago?" questioned the other. "Personally, I mean?"
"Fully! Thirty-five years ago, to be exact. He—if it is so—is now fifty-six years of age. Oh, yes, I knew everything, was concerned in everything," affirmed the elder man.
"Up to a certain point, you know, up to a certain point. Now, if I can only get at close quarters, and Pawley assures me that's by no means difficult, I can satisfy myself rather cleverly. For instance———"
Once more he leaned nearer to his companion and lowered his voice; the conversation tailed off into whisperings. And now, fearful lest I should in any way betray myself, I rose from my chair, left their neighbourhood, and under pretence of looking at the evening newspapers spread out on a centre table, went across to another part of the room. I picked
