"The only remaining relative is Mrs.Capella." "There again--how do you define the word 'relative.' I suppose, Mr.Brett, you are fairly well posted in the history of our house ?" "Yes." "Well, has it never struck you that there was something queer about the manner of my Uncle Alan's marriage--Margaret's father, I mean ?" "Perhaps.

What do you know about it ?" "Nothing definite.

When I was a mid-shipman on board the _Northumberland_ I have a lively recollection of a fiendish row between a man named Somers and another officer who passed some chaffing remark about my respected uncle's goings on in Italy.

The officer in question had forgotten, or never knew, that Sir Alan married Somers's sister--they were Bristol people, I think--but he stuck to it that Sir Alan had an Italian wife.

He had seen her." Brett was driving, Frazer sitting by his side, and David leaning over the rail from the back seat.