"I believe he did leave the country; some said in disgrace. I wonder who it was that was going to dine with Mr. Portman that night."
"The master didn't say. All he said was an old friend."
"A young man might be called an old friend," said Quarles.
"Oh, he couldn't be young," said Mrs. Eccles, "because the master said he had known him when he was a young man."
"That is interesting," said Quarles. "Shall we go and look at Mr. Portman's room, Wigan?"
When we closed the door Quarles stood in the center of the room and looked slowly round it.
"Was that screen standing there when you first entered the room, Wigan?"
"Yes."
"Where did you find the safe key?"
"Under that bookshelf."