Turning over the pages of the Directory, he found the number in Bedford Row at which Paxton and Freshfield carried on their practice. Wishing the proprietor good-day, he left the shop, and went straight to Robert Grantham's lodging. Grantham was at home.
"I have something to ask you, Robert," he said, without beating about the bush. "Were you born in Leamington?"
"Yes," replied Grantham.
"Leamington in Warwickshire?"
"Yes."
"Then this concerns you," said Rathbeal, and handed him the cutting.
The expression on Robert Grantham's face was not one of pleasure; to be thus publicly advertised for seemed to cause him discomfort. He read the advertisement, and offered no remark upon it.
"It was by chance," said Rathbeal, "using your own term, for I do not admit that chance is a factor in our lives, that I came across it. The paper I cut it from is nearly two months old. What are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing," said Grantham.
"Something to your advantage, it says. That sounds like money. You cannot afford to neglect it, Robert."