quaintance with that man Gorton--you remember
him?" broke off Lord Hartledon.

"Yes, I do," said Pike emphatically.

"Did he make you acquainted with any of his private affairs?--his past
history?"

"Not a word," answered Pike, looking still after the cart and the boy.

"Were those fine whiskers of his false? that red hair?"

Pike turned his head quickly. The question had aroused him.

"False hair and whiskers! I never knew it was the fashion to wear them."

"It may be convenient sometimes, even if not the fashion," observed Lord
Hartledon, his tone full of cynical meaning; and Mr. Pike surreptitiously
peered at him with his small light eyes.

"If Gorton's hair was false, I never noticed it, that's all; I never saw
him without a hat, that I remember, except in that inquest-room."

"Had he been to Australia?"

Pike paused to take another surreptitious gaze.

"Can't say, my lord. Never heard."

"Was his name Gorton, or Gordon? Come, Pike," continued Lord Hartledon,
good-humouredly, "there's a sort of mutual alliance between you and me;
you did me a service once unasked, and I allow you to live free and
undisturbed on my ground. I think you _do_ know something of this man;
it is a fancy I have taken up."

"I never knew his name was anything but Gorton," said Pike carelessly;
"never heard it nor thought it."

"Did you happen to hear him ever speak of that mutiny on board the
Australian ship _Morning Star_? You have heard of it, I daresay: a George
Gordon was the ringleader."

If ever the cool impudence was suddenly taken out of a man, this question
seemed to take it out of Pike. He did not reply for some time; and when
he did, it was in low and humble tones.

"My lord, I hope you'll pardon my rough thoughts and ways, which haven't
been used to such as you--and the sight of that boy put me up, for
reasons of my own. As to Gorton--I never did hear him speak of the thing
you mention. His name's Gorton, and nothing else, as far as I know; and
his hair's his own, for all I ever saw."

"He did not give you his confidence, then?"

"No, never. Not about himself nor anything else, past or present."

"And did not let a word slip? As to--for instance, as to his having been
a passenger on board the _Morning Star_ at the time of the mutiny?"

Pike had moved away a step, and stood with his arms on the hurdles, his
head bent on them, his face turned from Lord Hartledon.

"Gorton said nothing to me. As to that muti