Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/105

has never been heard of by his family since then, nor by anybody else in these parts. If the story you've just told me is true, he is probably identical with the Matthew Mortover who went to Canada. You say that the girl in London reports her father as a man who never spoke of his relations, or his past? That, according to my recollection of him, is in strict keeping with Matthew Mortover's character as a young man: he was a reserved, morose, sullen sort of fellow. Most likely when he cut himself adrift from his family he meant to do it thoroughly—and, to be sure, there was at that time nothing for him to look forward to; the Mortovers were then, and until quite recently, as poor as crows! Well, as I say, Matthew disappeared; in course of time old Gilson died. And he died intestate. Search was made high and low, but no will could be discovered—there is doubt that he ever made a will. Matthew was advertised for: there was no response. Eventually after some time Matthew's death was presumed, and Stephen took possession of the Mortover property. And now Stephen is dead and his son, the present Philip Mortover, is in possession. And—here is this girl! In all probability, from what you tell me, she's the daughter—and only child, you say—of Matthew Mortover, and Matthew himself has only been