“My client, I think, would have been glad to see you; but as you made a point of this interview being confidential, I was not justified in asking him to be present.”
“Oh no. I don’t want to see any one.”
“It would be a great help to my client, who is a stranger in London, if you, who know Forrester, would assist him.”
“Who is your client, may I ask?”
“My client,” said Mr Wilkins, resolved to make the venture, “is a Colonel Atherton, an old comrade of Captain Forrester, who has undertaken to try and find the boy and provide for him.”
Jeffreys started, and replied—
“No; I will do anything to help by myself, but I do not wish to meet him.”
“You know him, then?”
“No, I have never seen him.”
“He would, I can promise, respect your confidence, Mr Jeffreys.”