Penrose betrayed a marked embarrassment in answering my question.
"'I have innocently surprised a secret,' he said, 'on which I had no right to intrude.

All that I can honorably tell you, shall be told.

Add one more to your many kindnesses--don't command me to speak, when it is my duty toward a sorely-tried man to be silent, even to you.' "It is needless to say that I abstained from directly answering this strange appeal.

'Let me hear what you can tell,' I replied, 'and then we shall see.' "Upon this, he spoke.

I need hardly recall to your memory how careful we were, in first planning the attempt to recover the Vange property, to assure ourselves of the promise of success which the peculiar character of the present owner held out to us.