As he gave this piece of information, he looked at Dr. Schwaryencrona as much as to say:
"You can believe what you please, it is a matter of indifference to me."
"From Inverness, perhaps?" suggested the doctor, still clinging to his favorite theory.
The stranger again hesitated for a moment.
"No, from Edinburgh," he answered. "But that is of no importance after all, and has nothing to do with the matter in hand. I have an independent fortune and owe nothing to anybody. If I tell you who I am, it is because it gives me pleasure to do so, for I am not obliged to do it."
"Permit me to observe that I did not ask you," said the doctor, smiling.
"No, but do not interrupt me, or we shall never reach the end of this matter. You published an advertisement to find out what became of Patrick O'Donoghan, did you not?—you therefore have some interest in knowing. I know what has become of him."
"You know?" asked the doctor, drawing his seat closer to that of the stranger.
"I know, but before I tell you, I want to ask you what interest you have in finding him?"
"That is only just," answered the doctor.