"Well"--Saon scratched his chin--"I am not prepared to say but what that may not be the wiser course. And you wish to get some information from us to bring about this state of things?"
"I do. You receive a sum of money monthly from 'Frisco."
"From San Francisco," corrected the heavy man. "We do."
"Does Mr. Lancaster the father send it?"
"That I can't tell you. Our agents there are very respectable, as you may guess, and for many years they have sent us this sum monthly. We pay it to Miss Drake--our esteemed client--at the request of that unfortunate young gentleman. But it is understood that the money really goes to him."
"Is Mr. Lancaster the father alive?"
"We cannot say."
"Have you ever asked your respectable San Francisco firm?"
"No, certainly not. There is no need to. We receive the money and we pay it over. That is all that concerns us."
"Do you know anything about the father?"