Mr. Fortescue put this question as if he had no doubt about my answer, and I fulfilled his expectation by answering promptly in the affirmative.  The proposal seemed in every way to my advantage, and was altogether to my liking; and even had it been less so I should have accepted it, for what I had just heard greatly whetted my curiosity, and made me more desirous than ever to know the history of the extraordinary man with whom I had so strangely come in contact, and ascertain the secret of his wealth.

The same day I wrote to Alston announcing the dissolution of our partnership, and leaving him to deal with the horses at Red Chimneys as he might think fit.

CHAPTER IV.

A rescue.

My curiosity was rather long in being gratified, and but for a very strange occurrence, which I shall presently describe, probably never would have been gratified.  Even after I had been a member of Mr. Fortescue’s household for several months, I knew little more of his antecedents and circumstances than on the day when he made me the proposal which I have just mentioned.  If I attempted to lead up to the subject, he would either cleverly evade it or say bluntly that he preferred to talk about something else.  Save as to matters that did not particularly interest me, Ramon was as reticent as his master; and as Geist had only been with Mr. Fortescue during the latter’s residence at Kingscote, his knowledge, or, rather, his ignorance was on a par with my own.

Mr. Fortescue’s character was as enigmatic as his history was obscure.  He seemed to be destitute both of kinsfolk and friends, never made any allusion to his family, neither noticed women nor discussed them.  Politics and religion he equally ignored, and, so far as might appear, had neither foibles nor fads.  On the other hand, he had three passions—­science, horses, and horticulture, and his knowledge was almost encyclopaedic.  He was a great reader, master of many languages, and seemed to have been everywhere and seen all in the world that was worth seeing.  His wealth appeared to be unlimited, but how he made it or where he kept it I had no idea.  All I knew was that whenever money was wanted it was forthcoming, and that he signed a check for ten pounds and ten thousand with equal indifference.  As he conducted his private correspondence himself, my position as secretary gave me no insight into his affairs.  My duties consisted chiefly in corresponding with tradesmen, horse-dealers, and nursery gardeners, and noting the results of chemical experiments.

Mr. Fortescue was very abstemious, and took great care of his health, and if he was really verging on eighty (which I very much doubted), I thought he might not improbably live to be a hundred and ten and even a hundred and twenty.  He drank nothing, whatever, neither tea, coffee, cocoa, nor any other beverage, neither water nor wine, always quenching his thirst with fruit, of which he ate largely.  So far as I knew, the only liquid that ever passed his lips was an occasional liquor-glass of a mysterious decoction which he prepared himself and kept always under lock and key.  His breakfast, which he took every morning at seven, consisted of bread and fruit.