Who was his visitor?
"Your father, through over-devotion to the philanthropic works in which he was engaged, lost his reason temporarily, and on his partial recovery I understand that the doctors considered him still to be mentally in a very weak state.

They ordered him a sea voyage.

He left England on the Corinthia fifteen years ago, and I believe that you heard nothing more of him until you received the news of his death--probably ten years back." "Yes! Ten years ago.
"Your mother, I think, lived for only a few months after your father left England.

You found a guardian in Mr.Ascough of Lincoln's Inn Fields.

There my knowledge of your history ceases.
"How do you know these things ?" Brooks asked.
"I was with your father when he died.