Mr。Dingwallelevatedhiseyebrows。“Thelargepropertyatstakeofcourserenderedthemostsatisfactoryproofsofitnecessary。
Hisfatherhaddiedonlyamonthprevious，andofcoursetheywereseekingthepresumptiveheir，theso-called’CaptainJohnDornton’——
yourman——whentheymadethediscoveryofhisdeath。“
Randolphthoughtofthestrangebodyatthewharf，ofthecoroner’svagueverdict，andwasunconvinced。“But，“hesaidimpulsively，“therewasachild。“HecheckedhimselfasherememberedthiswasoneofMissAvondale’sconfidencestohim。
“Ah——MissAvondalehasspokenofachild？“saidMr。Dingwalldryly。