"
Mr. Carr had pricked up his ears, scarcely daring to breathe. But his
manner was careless to a degree.
"The man he arrested being Lord Hartledon; the man he ought to have
arrested being the Honourable Percival Elster," he interposed, laughing.
"What! do you know about it?" cried the lawyer.
"I remember hearing of it; I was intimate with Mr. Elster at the time."
"He has since become Lord Hartledon."
"Yes. But about this Gorton! I should not be in the least surprised if he
is the man I am inquiring for. Can you describe him to me, Mr. Kimberly?"
"He is a short, slight man, under thirty, with red hair and whiskers."
Mr. Carr nodded.
"Light hair with a reddish tinge it has been described to me. Do you
happen to be at all acquainted with his antecedents?"
"Not I; I know nothing about, the man," said Mr. Kedge. "Kimberly does,
perhaps."
"No, sir," dissented Kimberly. "He had been to Australia, I believe; and
that's all I know about him."
"It is the same man," said Mr. Carr, quietly. "And if you can tell me
anything about him," he continued, turning to the older man, "I shall be
exceedingly obliged to you. To begin with--when did you first know him?"
But at this juncture an interruption occurred. Hopkins the discourteous
came in with a card, which he presented to his principal. The gentleman
was waiting to see Mr. Kedge. Two more clients were also waiting, he
added, Thomas Carr rose, and the end of it was that he went with Mr.
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