to the best of his
ability, the long and intricate story. Be it observed that, although Mr.
Colquhoun knew that Brian was living, and that he had lately been in
England, he did not know of Brian's appearance at Strathleckie under the
name of Stretton, and was, therefore, unable to give Elizabeth any
information on this point.

Elizabeth was imperative in her decision.

"At any rate," she said, "the property cannot belong to me. It must
belong either to Mr. Luttrell or to Mr. Vasari. I have no right to it."

"Possession is nine points of the law, my dear," said the lawyer.
"Nobody can turn you out until Brian comes home again. It may be all a
mistake."

"You don't think it a mistake, Mr. Colquhoun?"

Mr. Colquhoun smiled, pursed up his lips, and gave his head a little
shake, as much as to say that he was not going to be tricked into any
expression of his private opinions.

"The thing will be to get Mr. Brian Luttrell back," said Elizabeth.

"Not such an easy thing as it seems, I am afraid, Miss Murray. The lad,
Dino Vasari, or whatever his name is, tried hard to keep him, but
failed. He is an honest lad, I believe, this Dino, but he's an awful
fool, you know, begging your pardon. If he wanted to keep Brian in
England, why couldn't he write to me?"

"Perhaps he did not know of your friendship for Brian," said Elizabeth,
smiling.

"Then he knew very little of Brian's life and Brian's friends, my dear,
and, according to his own account, he knew a good deal. Of course, he is
a foreigner, and we must make allowances for him, especially as he was
brought up in a monastery, where I don't suppose they learn much about
the forms of ordinary life. What puzzles me is the stupidity of one or
two other people, who might have let me know in time, if they had had
their wits about them. I've a crow to pluck with your Mr. Heron on that
ground," concluded Mr. Colquhoun, never dreaming that he was making
mischief by his communication.

Elizabeth started forward. "Percival!" she said, contracting her brows
and looking at Mr. Colquhoun earnestly. "You don't mean that Percival
knew!"

Mr. Colquhoun perceived that he had gone too far, but could not retract
his words.

"Well, my dear Miss Murray, he certainly knew something----" and then he
stopped short and coughed apologetically.

"Oh," said Elizabeth, with a little extra colour in her cheeks, and the
faintest possible touch of coldness, "no doubt he had his reasons for
bei