is one of our greatest experts on handwriting. I don't know whether
you have any of your father's letters in your possession."

"Yes, I have several. I brought over the last two I had from him,
thinking they might be useful."

"Well, his opinion on the signatures may be valuable, though as a rule
experts differ so absolutely that their evidence is always taken with
considerable doubt, but it is part of his business to look out for
erasures and alterations. It is quite possible Brander may have removed
that blot, and that he has done it so well that neither you nor I could
detect it; but whether he did it with a knife or chemicals you may be
sure that Cooper will be able to spot it, whichever he used. I have very
little doubt that your suspicions are correct and those parchments were
really the pretended mortgage deeds. If you like I will go round and see
Cooper at once and arrange for him to meet us in Coleman Street
to-morrow at four o'clock."

"Thank you very much. The idea of the blot being erased had never struck
me."

The next day Cuthbert met James Harford and Mr. Cooper at the door of
the accountants, and after being introduced by the clerk to the expert
they went up together. On giving his name in the office a clerk came
across to him.

"If you will come with me, gentlemen, I will lead you to the room that
is ready for you. This is the document that you desire to see."

As soon as they were alone they sat down at the table, and opened the
deed.

"How is it for size?" Cuthbert asked.

"It is about the same size, but that is nothing. All deeds are on two or
three sizes of parchment. The last page is the thing."

Cuthbert turned to it. There were but four lines of writing at the top
of the page, and below these came the signatures.

"Of course I could not swear to it, Mr. Hartington, but it is precisely
in accordance with my recollection. There were either three, four, or
five lines at the top. Certainly not more than five, certainly not less
than three. As you see there is no blot to my signature. Now, Mr.
Cooper, will you be kind enough to compare the signatures of these two
letters with the same name there?"

Mr. Cooper took the letter and deed to a desk by the window, examined
them carefully, then took out a large magnifying glass from his pocket,
and again examined them.

"I should say they are certainly not by the same hand," he said,
decisively. "I do not call them even good imitations. They