"Do! I take a great interest in this sort of cases. I ought to have been a lawyer instead of a doctor."
"I'm thankful for my own sake you are the latter," said I, shaking his hand. "Good-by, doctor; I am greatly obliged for the kind interest you have taken in this case."
"Pure selfishness, I assure you," replied Merrick; and so I took my leave.
Before searching the shipping lists I sent two telegrams--one to the manager of the Hôtel des Étrangers, asking if Mr. Felix Briarfield was still there; the other to my aunt Jane, inquiring whether Mr. Francis Briarfield was in Marshminster. This business having been dispatched, I took a hansom to the City, and saw a merchant of my acquaintance. He was an old friend, and willing to oblige me in every way.
"Chambers," said I, when in his office, "I want to find out a ship that arrived in London from Chili during the present month."
"During June," said Chambers. "Well, there's no difficulty about that. What is her name?"
"That is one of the things I wish to find out; also the names of the passengers."
"Come with me to the Jerusalem," said Chambers, picking up his hat; "you'll find there her name and agents. Go to the agents and they will supply you with a list of the passengers. What's up now?"
"Nothing particular," I answered carelessly. "I have reason to believe a friend of mine returned from South America this month, and I want to make certain."
"Well, if he came under his own name, you'll have no difficulty in doing so. Here's the Jerusalem!"