I made up my mind
to tell the Duke myself, as I did, with very fortunate results. No,
that's the only reason I know of why Brake came this way. I tell you
I knew nothing at all of his family affairs! He was a very close man,
Brake, and apart from his business matters, he'd only one idea in his
head, and that was lodged there pretty firmly, I can assure you!"

"What was it?" asked Bryce.

"He wanted to find a certain man--or, rather, two men--who'd cruelly
deceived and wronged him, but one of 'em in particular," answered
Glassdale. "The particular one he believed to be in Australia, until
near the end, when he got an idea that he'd left for England; as for
the other, he didn't bother much about him. But the man that he did
want!--ah, he wanted him badly!"

"Who was that man?" asked Bryce.

"A man of the name of Falkiner Wraye," answered Glassdale promptly. "A
man he'd known in London. This Wraye, together with his partner, a
man called Flood, tricked Brake into lending 'em several thousands
pounds--bank's money, of course--for a couple of days--no more--and
then clean disappeared, leaving him to pay the piper! He was a fool, no
doubt, but he'd been mixed up with them; he'd done it before, and they'd
always kept their promises, and he did it once too often. He let 'em
have some thousands; they disappeared, and the bank inspector happened
to call at Brake's bank and ask for his balances. And--there he was.
And--that's why he'd Falkiner Wraye on his mind--as his one big idea.
T'other man was a lesser consideration, Wraye was the chief offender."

"I wish you'd tell me all you know about Brake," said Bryce after a
pause during which he had done some thinking. "Between ourselves, of
course."

"Oh--I don't know that there's so much secrecy!" replied Glassdale
almost indifferently. "Of course, I knew him first when we were both
inmates of--you understand where; no need for particulars. But after we
left that place, I never saw him again until we met in Australia a few
years ago. We were both in the same trade--speculating in wool. We got
pretty thick and used to see each other a great deal, and of course,
grew confidential. He told me in time about his affair, and how he'd
traced this Wraye to the United States, and then, I think, to New
Zealand, and afterwards to Australia, and as I was knocking about the
country a great deal buying up wool, he asked me to help him, and
gave me a description of Wraye, of whom, he said,