licitor in those days, and my name
was--something else. There were three of us at it: Chamberlayne's
nephew; a doctor of no reputation; and myself. We carried it out very
cleverly, and Chamberlayne gave us five thousand pounds apiece for our
trouble. It was not the first time that I had helped him and been well
paid for my help. The first time was in connection with the
Cloudhampton Hearth and Home Mutual Benefit Society affair--Aylmore, or
Ainsworth, was as innocent as a child in that!--Chamberlayne was the
man at the back. But, unfortunately, Chamberlayne didn't profit--he
lost all he got by it, pretty quick. That was why be transferred his
abilities to Market Milcaster."

"You can prove all this, I suppose?" remarked Spargo.

"Every word--every letter! But about the Market Milcaster affair: Your
father, Breton, was right in what he said about Chamberlayne having all
the money that was got from the bank. He had--and he engineered that
mock death and funeral so that he could disappear, and he paid us who
helped him generously, as I've told you. The thing couldn't have been
better done. When it was done, the nephew disappeared; the doctor
disappeared; Chamberlayne disappeared. I had bad luck--to tell you the
truth, I was struck off the rolls for a technical offence. So I changed
my name and became Mr. Myerst, and eventually what I am now. And it was
not until three years ago that I found Chamberlayne. I found him in
this way: After I became secretary to the Safe Deposit Company, I took
chambers in the Temple, above Cardlestone's. And I speedily found out
who he was. Instead of going abroad, the old fox--though he was a
comparatively young 'un, then!--had shaved off his beard, settled down
in the Temple and given himself up to his two hobbies, collecting
curiosities and stamps. There he'd lived quietly all these years, and
nobody had ever recognized or suspected him. Indeed, I don't see how
they could; he lived such a quiet, secluded life, with his collections,
his old port, and his little whims and fads. But--I knew him!"

"And you doubtless profited by your recognition," suggested Breton.

"I certainly did. He was glad to pay me a nice sum every quarter to
hold my tongue," replied Myerst, "and I was glad to take it and,
naturally, I gained a considerable knowledge of him. He had only one
friend--Mr. Elphick, in there. Now, I'll you about him."

"Only if you are going to speak respectfully of him," said Breton
ster