Stafford, essentially a man of activity, speculated on their reasons for seeing the three people whom Sir Cresswell Oliver had specifically mentioned: Copplestone was meanwhile wondering if he could with propriety pay another visit to Mrs.
Greyle's cottage that night.

It was drawing near to dusk when the two quiet-looking, elderly gentlemen returned and summoned the younger ones to another conference.

Both looked as reserved and bland as when they had set out, and the old seaman's voice was just as suave as ever when he addressed them.
"Well, gentlemen," he said, "we have paid our visits, and I suppose I had better tell you at once that we are no wiser as to actual facts than we were when we left you earlier in the afternoon.

The man Ewbank stands emphatically by his story; Mr.Marston Greyle says that he cannot remember any meeting with my brother in America, and that he certainly did not call on him here on Sunday: Mrs.Valentine Greyle has not met Bassett for a great many years.

Now--there the matter stands.