“I should like,” said Thorndyke, “to know a little more about the parties concerned in this affair. But perhaps Mr. Stephen can give me the information.”

“I expect he can,” said Marchmont; “at any rate, he knows more about them than I do; so I will be off. If you should happen to think of any way,” he continued, with a sly smile, “of upsetting that will, just let me know, and I will lose no time in entering a caveat. Goodbye! Don’t trouble to let me out.”

As soon as he was gone, Thorndyke turned to Stephen Blackmore.

“I am going,” he said, “to ask you a few questions which may appear rather trifling, but you must remember that my methods of inquiry concern themselves with persons and things rather than with documents. For instance, I have not gathered very completely what sort of person your uncle Jeffrey was. Could you tell me a little more about him?”