"True," replied the former, "but Robert McGregor was aware of the fact of his sister's death some years ago. The latter was too proud to ask forgiveness for her rash act, and all intimacy ceased when she left her parent's protection, for old Hugh McGregor was a harsh, unrelenting man, whom if once thwarted could never be conciliated."
"And how do you intend to proceed? Have you any further information?"
"None, sir—except that by some intelligence from New Brunswick about ten years ago, Robert McGregor heard that his sister's child married a farmer and was comfortably settled."
"There is little trouble in finding the heirs then. Is the property a valuable one?"
"Real and personal estate amounts to something in the vicinity of forty thousand dollars."
"Not a bad heritage, I assure you, sir," said the other, with the least perceptible smile.
A month after the above conversation took place the lawyer was interviewed by the same individual.
"Yes, indeed, I immediately forwarded the notice to the St. John Daily Telegraph and to the Daily Sun, two leading journals of that city, and yesterday was rewarded by a letter from a young solicitor of that city making such inquiries about the McGregor family that evidently shows that he is in possession of all the facts that we wish to become acquainted with."
"Are you at liberty to give his name. I am acquainted with the majority of St. John lawyers," said the other, feeling a lively interest in the subject.
"Not at present, if I were really disposed to do so," said the lawyer in the most good-natured manner. "The fact is I am not exactly in the writer's confidence myself. He wishes, no doubt, to communicate farther with some of the family in question ere he gives himself publicity."