"He will write you a letter asking you to stay with him at Kensington Gore."
"I don't see what there is suspicious about that," said Claude petulantly.
"I know you don't. But it is my belief that he is afraid of your investigations in this case, and wishes to keep you under his eye."
"But good Heavens, man! he advised me to pursue the matter."
"On the contrary, he advised you to let sleeping dogs lie."
"So he did," cried Claude, with a sudden recollection of the interview. "But why? What harm can my investigations do to him?"
"Ah! That is a difficult question to answer," said Tait reflectingly. "To my mind they will show that Hilliston was not the friend of your father he pretended to be."
"But according to those papers he acted like a friend throughout."
"Yes, according to those papers."
Larcher faced round suddenly, struck by the significance of the remark. He was a clever young man, but could not see clearly before him, and honest himself, was far from suspecting dishonesty in others. Instead of agreeing with Tait in his estimate of Hilliston, he vehemently defended the lawyer.