"All that Lord Arranmore has told me," he said, "is that my father occupied a cabin not far from his on the banks of Lake Ono, that they saw little of each other, and that he only found out his illness by accident. That my father then disclosed his name, gave him his papers and your address. There was merely the casual intercourse between two Englishmen coming together in a strange country."
"That is what I have always understood," Mr. Ascough agreed. "Have you any reason to think otherwise?
"No definite reason—except Lord Arranmore's unusual kindness to me," Brooks remarked. "Lord Arranmore is one of the most self-centred men I ever knew—and the least impulsive. Why, therefore, he should go out of his way to do me a kindness I cannot understand."
"If this is really an enigma to you," Mr. Ascough answered, "I cannot help you to solve it. Lord Arranmore has been the reverse of communicative to me. I am afraid you must fall back upon his lordship's eccentricity."
Mr. Ascough rose, but Brooks detained him.
"You have plenty of time for your train," he said. "Will you forgive me if I go over a little old ground with you—for the last time?"
The lawyer resumed his seat.
"I am in no hurry," he said, "if you think it worth while."
"My father came to you when he was living at Stepney—a stranger to you."
"A complete stranger," Mr. Ascough agreed. "I had never seen him before in my life. I did a little trifling business for him in connection with his property."