"Paid it into his own hands as the child's guardian."
"Yes; that was the simple transaction."
"Has the public never made a guess at the real truth of this matter?"
"Never, so far as my knowledge goes. There have been some vague whisperings—but no one has seemed to comprehend the matter."
"The purchase was made in your name, was it not?"
"Yes."
"That is, you bought from Jasper as the child's guardian; and afterward sold it back to him."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you hold on to it when it was fairly in your hands? I only wish I had been in your place?"
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders, but did not commit himself by acknowledging that he had, more than once, regretted his omission to claim the property while legally in his hands, and defy Jasper to wrest it from him.