‘But why?’
‘To take up the title and the family property, and see that his son comes into it after him.’
‘His son? He had no son.’
‘How do you know?’
‘His mother died in childbirth; she—’
‘You seem very fully informed. What more do you know?’
‘Nothing—I wish I did.’
‘You have never sought to know, perhaps? Had no business to know?’
‘Perhaps not. Is Lady Farrington still alive?’