answered my question, Mr. Glassdale," he observed. "Can you
give any information?"

Glassdale threw his questioner a significant glance.

"Whatever information I might give," he said, "I'd only give to a
principal--the principal. From what I've seen and known of all this,
there's more in it than is on the surface. I can tell something. I knew
John Braden--who, of course, was John Brake--very well, for some years.
Naturally, I was in his confidence."

"About more than the Saxonsteade jewels, you mean?" asked the solicitor.

"About more than that," assented Glassdale. "Private matters. I've no
doubt I can throw some light--some!--on this Wrychester Paradise affair.
But, as I said just now, I'll only deal with the principal. I wouldn't
tell you, for instance--as your principal's solicitor."

The solicitor smiled again.

"Your ideas, Mr. Glassdale, appear to fit in with our principal's,"
he remarked. "His instructions--strict instructions--to us are that if
anybody turns up who can give any information, it's not to be given to
us, but to--himself!"

"Wise man!" observed Glassdale. "That's just what I feel about it. It's
a mistake to share secrets with more than one person."

"There is a secret, then!" asked the solicitor, half slyly.

"Might be," replied Glassdale. "Who's your client?"

The solicitor pulled a scrap of paper towards him and wrote a few words
on it. He pushed it towards his caller, and Glassdale picked it up and
read what had been written--Mr. Stephen Folliot, The Close.

"You'd better go and see him," said the solicitor, suggestively. "You'll
find him reserved enough."

Glassdale read and re-read the name--as if he were endeavouring to
recollect it, or connect it with something.

"What particular reason has this man for wishing to find this out?" he
inquired.

"Can't say, my good sir!" replied the solicitor, with a smile. "Perhaps
he'll tell you. He hasn't told me."

Glassdale rose to take his leave. But with his hand on the door he
turned.

"Is this gentleman a resident in the place?" he asked.

"A well-known townsman," replied the solicitor. "You'll easily find his
house in the Close--everybody knows it."

Glassdale went away then--and walked slowly towards the Cathedral
precincts. On his way he passed two places at which he was half inclined
to call--one was the police-station; the other, the office of the
solicitors who were acting on behalf of the offerer of five hundred
pounds.