"It is very kind of you to say so," said Monteith, in some surprise, "I am quite a stranger to you."
"You are," answered the young lawyer, "but I am a student of Lavater, and I can read faces--therefore, I say, I hope we shall be friends."
"I'm certain we shall," said Ronald, heartily holding out his hand, which the other grasped again.
"You had a pleasant voyage?" asked Foster, in a conversational manner.
"Very, except for one incident."
"Which I know all about,"--pointing to the newspaper.
"I'm glad of that, because, I have just called to see you about it."
"Eh!" said Foster sitting up in his chair; "by Jove, hope you'll put the case in my way. I was just thinking before you came in what a splendid chance was to make a name if one only had the case."
"Well Mr. Foster," said Ronald, slowly, looking keenly at him, "I am very much interested in the case, Ventin was an intimate friend of mine, and as no one that I can hear of is going to try and clear up the mystery of his death, I am going to take that duty on my own shoulders."
"I see," observed Foster nodding sagely; "and you want help?"