"Who was her mother?"
"I have understood it was a twin sister."
"Who was her father?"
Mr. Norbury hesitated. "If your lordship would excuse, I would prefer not to say. The story came to me through two persons. My own informant had it from Thrale. But it's near twenty years ago, and I could not charge my memory, to a certainty."
"Something you don't like to tell?"
"Not except I could speak to a certainty." Mr. Norbury, evidently embarrassed, wavered respectfully.
"Was there a convict in it, certain or uncertain?"
"There was, my lord. Certain, I fear. But I am uncertain about his name. Peverell, or Deverell."
"What was he convicted of? What offence?"
"I rather think it was forgery, my lord, but I may be wrong about that. The story said his wife followed him to Van Diemen's Land, and died there?"