Let's have the facts of the case, please. But first, who was
the victim? Anybody of importance?"

"Of very great importance--in the financial world," replied Narkom.
"He is--or, rather, was--an American multi-millionaire; inventor,
to speak by the card, of numerous electrical devices which brought
him wealth beyond the dreams of avarice, and carried his fame all
over the civilized world. You will, no doubt, have heard of him. His
name is Jefferson P. Drake."

"Oho!" said Cleek, arching his eyebrows. "That man, eh? Oh, yes, I've
heard of him often enough--very nearly everybody in England has by
this time. Chap who conceived the idea of bettering the conditions
of the poor by erecting art galleries that were to be filled and
supported out of the rates and, more or less modestly, to be known
by the donor's name. That's the man, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's the man."

"Just so. Stop a bit! Let's brush up my memory a trifle. Of
English extraction, wasn't he? And, having made his money in his
own native country, came to that of his father to spend it? Had
social aspirations, too, I believe; and, while rather vulgar in
his habits and tastes, was exceedingly warm-hearted--indeed,
actually lovable--and made up for his own lack of education by
spending barrels of money upon that of his son. Came to England
something more than a year ago, if I remember rightly; bought a fine
old place down in Suffolk, and proceeded forthwith to modernize it
after the most approved American ideas--steam heat, electric
lights, a refrigerating plant for the purpose of supplying the ice
and the creams and the frozen sweets so necessary to the American
palate; all that sort of thing, and set out forthwith to establish
himself as a sumptuous entertainer on the very largest possible
scale. That's the 'lay of the land,' isn't it?"

"Yes, that's it precisely. The estate he purchased was Heatherington
Hall, formerly Lord Fallowfield's place. The entail was broken
ages ago, but no Fallowfield ever attempted to part with the place
until his present lordship's time. And although he has but one
child, a daughter, I don't suppose that he would have been tempted
to do so, either, but that he was badly crippled--almost ruined,
in fact--last year by unlucky speculations in the stock market, with
the result that it was either sell out to Jefferson P. Drake or be
sold out by his creditors. Naturally, he chose the former course.
That it turned out to be a most exce