"I'm sure I don't know. Could not the law?"
"The law must get a leg to stand upon before it can act. It has no right to interfere with Mr. Castlemaine. That young Anthony--if he's not dead--might come back and enter a process against him for restitution, and all that: in that case James Castlemaine would have to show by what tenure he holds it. But it might be an awfully long and expensive affair; and perhaps end in nothing."
"End in nothing?"
"Why, you see, if old Anthony Castlemaine simply made a present, while he was yet living, of Greylands' Rest to James, the latter would have to swear to it, and the thing would be done with. Some people think it was so. Others, and I for one, don't fancy it was his at all, but that poor young Anthony's."
"The Castlemaines have always been held to be men of honour, I believe?"
"And we should never have doubted James to be one--but for his refusal to satisfy his nephew and the public. Nothing but that raised a doubt against him. It is blowing over now."
"You do not know, then, how Greylands' Rest was left, or to whom?"
"No. I don't believe anybody does know, save Mr. Castlemaine himself. Unless it's Knivett. He may."
"But I dare say Knivett would not tell--even if he were pumped."
Mr. Dobie burst into a laugh at the idea. "Knivett tell the affairs of any of his clients!" said he. "You might as well set on and pump this high-backed chair as pump him."