"These must represent the parents of the boy Jed," said the detective.
"So we concluded—Mr. Avery and myself."
"Does the lady bear any resemblance to the girl who brought the child to you?"
"Not the slightest. The girl was common in appearance. She probably filled the position of a servant or nursemaid."
"Did it occur to you that she might be in any way related to the child?"
"Not for a moment. He was evidently the child of parents wealthy or well to do."
"Did you form any conjectures relative to her or her object in bringing you the child?"
"No. There was nothing to serve as a clew. It was all guesswork on our part. Still the thought did occur to us that the child had been stolen or abducted from his people for some reason unknown to us."
The detective hesitated a moment, and then, having apparently made up his mind to confide in the worthy couple, said: "Your guess was very near the truth. The child, I have every reason to believe, was stolen from its mother—the father was dead—through the machinations of an uncle who wanted the boy's title and estate."