human
How went the business?
gpt
Badly--for us, was the reply.
human
Lestrange certainly arrived by the boat he said he came by. I saw his name, Achille Lestrange, on the passenger-list of the _Negress_.
gpt
Ah! the devil speaks true sometimes! said the Rector.
human
And what about Beauchamp?
gpt
Yes, yes! cried Sophy.
human
Did you find him? Did you see him?
gpt
No, replied Alan quietly,
human
Dead! repeated Sophy, after a pause.
gpt
Then was this Mr. Beauchamp really my father or a relative?
human
I think he was Mr. Marlow, dear, said her lover gravely.
gpt
No doubt your father intended to feign death to escape Lestrange, but it would seem that he overdid it, and really died. I saw the manager of the Occidental Bank. He informed me that he had received a letter telling him that Beauchamp was dead.
human
How long ago was this?
gpt
A little over a week.
human
Who wrote the letter?
gpt
That he refused to tell me.
human
Had he seen this Mr. Beauchamp, to whom the money was to be paid?
gpt
Never. Your father had informed him that he had left an income to Beauchamp, and that drafts for the money were to be sent to a certain place--where, I don't know. The manager sent a draft, but it was returned to him with a letter stating that the man was dead. For my own part, I believe that Mr. Marlow was Beauchamp. His plan to hide himself from Lestrange has succeeded only too well.
human
Then I understand, Alan, that you think Marlow is really dead?
gpt
I do. If he had only feigned death, then Beauchamp would be receiving his income. In my opinion, the two men are one and the same. I believe Lestrange's story so far.
human
Humph! said the Rector, who was really of the same opinion.
gpt
But let us leave this question for the moment and talk of the other. You say that Lestrange arrived on the day and by the boat he asserted that he did?
human
I saw the passenger-list myself. If he had not been on board, his name would not have been there. Even he could not falsify a passenger-list.
gpt
Then our idea that Lestrange was the Quiet Gentleman is false?
human
It must be, sir. The man--Lestrange I mean--was not in England when the Quiet Gentleman lived in this village. I believe Brown had to do with the stealing of the body and the murder. But, then, Brown is not Lestrange. Who he is I don't know!
gpt
Alan! cried Sophy--for if what Lestrange stated was true, this hypocrisy was detestable--
human
Indeed I am, he said, with a stare of astonishment.
gpt
I have told you of my discoveries. Why should I deceive you?
human
Why, indeed! said the girl bitterly.
gpt
You know how much I love you, yet you keep me in the dark about matters which concern us both--matters which I, if any one, have a right to know.