“It does look that way,” the other acknowledged.

“Well, now, doesn’t that seem a little peculiar, when, with no direct heirs that we know of, the property would in any case revert to your family?”

Ralph Mainwaring puffed in silence for a few moments, then removing his cigar and slowing knocking off the ashes, he replied very deliberately,-

“It is my opinion that he and that attorney of his are aware of some possible claimants, of whom we know nothing.”

“That is my idea exactly,” said Mr. Thornton; “and, don’t you know, it has occurred to me that possibly, unknown to us, Harold Mainwaring may have left a child, whose existence is known to Hugh.”

“That would cut no figure in this case,” Mr. Mainwaring answered, quickly.  “Even had there been a living child, — which there was not, — he could make no claim whatever, for Harold was disinherited by his father’s will.”

“Yes, I know the old gentleman disinherited Harold, but would his heirs have no claim?”

“Not under that will.  I was present when it was read, and I remember it debarred ‘both him and his heirs, forever.’”

“Poor Harold!” said Mr. Thornton, after a moment’s silence; “he was the elder son, was he not?”

“Yes, and his father’s favorite.  It broke the old man’s heart to disinherit him.  He failed rapidly after that occurred, and he never was the same towards Hugh.  I always thought that accounted for Hugh’s selling the old place as he did; it had too many unpleasant memories.”

“Harold died soon after that unfortunate marriage, I believe.”

“Yes; he learned too late the character of the woman he had married, and after the death of their only child, he left her, and a few years later was lost at sea.”

“Well,” continued Mr. Thornton, after a pause, “have you the remotest idea as to who these possible claimants against the property may be?”

“Only the merest suspicion, as yet too vague even to mention; but I think a day or two will probably enable me to determine whether I am correct or not.”

At that moment, Harry Scott, the private secretary, appeared, with a message to the gentlemen from Hugh Mainwaring, to the effect that he would like to have them join himself and Mr. Whitney in his library.

As they passed around to the southern entrance with the secretary, they did not observe a closed carriage coming swiftly up the driveway, nor a tall, slender man, with cadaverous features and sharp, peering eyes, who alighted and hastily rang for admittance.  But two hours later, as Mr. Thornton was descending the winding stairway in the main hall, he caught a glimpse of the strange caller, just taking his departure.  The stranger, hearing footsteps, turned towards Mr. Thornton, and for an instant their eyes met.  There was a mutual recognition; astonishment and scorn were written on Mr. Thornton’s face, while the stranger cowed visibly and, with a fawning, cringing bow, made as speedy an exit as possible.