"Because your mother is dead."
Drayton shook off the stupor of liquor, and betrayed a keen if momentary interest.
"The book of the asylum in which she was confined, after the attempted suicide, contains the record—"
"But she escaped," interrupted Drayton.
"Contains the record of her escape and subsequent recovery—dead. The body was picked out of the river, recognized by the authorities as that of the unknown woman, and buried in the name she gave."
"What name?" said Drayton.
Hugh Ritson's face underwent a momentary change.
"That is indifferent," he said; "I forget."
"Sure you forget?" said Drayton. "Couldn't be Ritson, eh?"
Hugh struck the table.