Here we come upon the first black mark against the name.

He appears to have lived reputably for some years, and then, after a quarrel with a neighbour about some trivial matter, he deliberately murdered him, a crime for which he was tried and executed in 1867.

John Craig, his only son, entered our service in 1880, and, when I left England, accompanied me as my valet." There was a moment's silence.

Quest shook his head a little reproachfully.
"Professor," he said, "you are a scientific man, you appreciate the significance of heredity, yet during all this time, when you must have seen for yourself the evidence culminating against Craig, you never mentioned this--this--damning piece of evidence." The Professor closed the book with a sigh.
"I did not mention it, Mr.Quest," he acknowledged, "because I did not believe in Craig's guilt and I did not wish to further prejudice you against him.

That is the whole and simple truth.