"Gamblers never do drink," said Sir Ross vindictively; "they press the liquor on the other side. Frankly, Mr. Tracy, I think Mr. Melville Ashley is the devil incarnate, and I should never be surprised to hear any villainy of him."
The vigour with which the little man delivered himself of this outburst surprised the lawyer considerably, but he trimmed with superlative skill.
"He is one of those curious people who lead several different lives simultaneously. In my capacity of Sir Geoffrey Holt's executor I wanted to ascertain why his uncle disinherited him—which he has done—in order that I might know how far to encourage or restrain his brother's impulse to make provision for him by deed of gift."
"What's the brother like?" enquired Sir Ross.
"A fine fellow," said Mr. Tracy warmly; "white all through. As different from Melville as it's possible to imagine."
"Must be," grunted Sir Ross. "If it weren't that you say he's been cut off without a shilling, I should say that Mr. Melville Ashley shot his uncle and shifted the suspicion on to his brother by some vile trickery." He paused a minute, and then in his turn sought the information which he had failed to obtain elsewhere. "You are the family lawyer, so you will probably be able to tell me this. What is the relationship between Mr. Ashley and Mrs. Sinclair?"
"Do you mean the Mrs. Sinclair to whom you are engaged?"
"To whom I was engaged," said Sir Ross, flushing; "that is whom I mean. I am told there is some relationship by marriage between her and the Ashleys. What is it precisely?"
"I am not aware of any," said Mr. Tracy, feeling horribly uncomfortable. "I know they are acquainted."
"I knew Mr. Sinclair intimately," said Sir Ross, "but I never heard of any relations of his named Ashley; yet when I had occasion to object to Mr. Melville Ashley's very constant attendance on and very marked attentions to Mrs. Sinclair, an attempt was made to over-rule my protest on the ground that they were so closely related by marriage that my objections were absurd. What is the relationship?"