They made their way out of the Milmarsh mansion without discovery, and in due time reached the Old Pike Inn, where they went to bed and slept till the morning was fairly well advanced.
Indeed, they were still at breakfast in the private dining room into which Captain Brown had led them, so that none of the other guests should see them, when the captain came in and told them that Thomas Jarvis was in the office and wanted to see Mr. Carter.
“Thomas Jarvis! Do you mean Richard Jarvis’ father?”
“Yes. He has been living here in the inn for a month past. He must have seen you come in or go out, and recognized you. Those raincoats and caps are pretty good, but a man who knows you and could get a good look at your face would know you in spite of them.”
“Well, you may as well show him in here,” answered Nick. “I believe I know what he is after.”
In ten minutes Thomas Jarvis had visited the detective, told his story, and been dismissed. He had come to say that, as Howard Milmarsh had not appeared to claim the property of his late father, it came automatically to the Jarvis branch, and as he, Thomas, was the only living Jarvis, of course it was his.
“You know that Howard Milmarsh has appeared, and that he is living in the Milmarsh residence at this very time?” asked Carter.
“I know that a man calling himself Howard Milmarsh is there,” was the reply.
“You don’t believe he is the real man, then?”
“I didn’t say so.”