"His name," replied Mrs. Lester, "is Godwin Markham."
"Did you ever see him, ma'am?" asked Starmidge.
Mrs. Lester looked her astonishment.
"I?" she exclaimed. "No—never!"
"Did your son ever describe him to you?—his personal appearance, I mean," inquired Starmidge.
Mrs. Lester shook her head.
"No!" she replied. "Indeed, I have heard my son say that he never saw Markham himself but once. He did his—business, I suppose you would call it—with the manager—who always said—when this recent pressing began—that he was powerless—he could only do what Mr. Markham bade him do."
"Precisely!" said Starmidge. "There generally is a manager whose chief business is to say that sort of thing, ma'am. Dear me!—and where, ma'am, is this Mr. Godwin Markham's office? You know that, no doubt?"
"Oh, yes—it is in Conduit Street—off New Bond Street," replied Mrs. Lester.
"Of course you never went there?" asked Starmidge. "No, of course not. All was done through your son, until you called in Mr. Hollis. Now, when did you call in Mr. Hollis, Mrs. Lester?—the date's important."