d I can't trace how or where."

Mr. Carr listened in silence. To reiterate that the two men were
identical, would have been waste of time, since he could not avow how
he knew it, or give the faintest clue. The detective himself had
unconsciously furnished a proof.

"Will you tell me your grounds for believing them to be different men?"
he asked.

"Nay," said the keen detective, "the shortest way would be for you to
give me your grounds for thinking them to be the same."

"I cannot do it," said Mr. Carr. "It might involve--no, I cannot do it."

"Well, I suspected so. I don't mind mentioning one or two on my side.
The description of Gorton, as I had it from Kimberly, does not accord
with that of Gordon as given me by his friend the surgeon. I wrote out
the description of Gorton, and took it to him. 'Is this Gordon?' I
asked. 'No, it is not,' said he; and I'm sure he spoke the truth."

"Gordon, on his return from Australia, might be a different-looking man
from the Gordon who went to it."

"And would be, no doubt. But see here: Gorton was not disguised; Gordon
would not dare to be in London without being so; his head's not worth a
day's purchase. Fancy his walking about with only one letter in his name
altered! Rely upon it, Mr. Carr, you are mistaken; Gordon would no more
dare come back and put his head into the lion's mouth than you'd jump
into a fiery furnace. He couldn't land without being dropped upon: the
man was no common offender, and we've kept our eyes open. And that's
all," added the detective, after a pause. "Not very satisfactory, is it,
Mr. Carr? But, such as it is, I think you may rely upon it, in spite of
your own opinion. Meanwhile, I'll keep on the look-out for Gorton, and
tell you if he turns up."

The conference was over, and Mr. Green took his departure. Thomas Carr
saw him out himself, returned and sat down in a reverie.

"It's a curious tale," said Lord Hartledon.

"I'm thinking how the fact, now disclosed, of Gordon's being Gordon of
the mutiny, affects you," remarked Mr. Carr.

"You believe him to be the same?"

"I see no reason to doubt it. It's not probable that two George Gordons
should take their passage home in the _Morning Star_. Besides, it
explains points that seemed incomprehensible. I could not understand
why you were not troubled by this man, but rely upon it he has found it
expedient to go into effectual hiding, and dare not yet come out of it.
This fact is a very great ho