If not of the finest degree of intellect, Stoner was far from being a fool, and it had not taken him very long to explain to himself why Cotherstone had scribbled the name of that far-off south-country town all over that sheet of paper, aimlessly, apparently without reason, amidst his figurings.

_It was uppermost in his thoughts at the time_--and as he sat there, pen in hand, he had written it down, half-unconsciously, over and over again....

There it was--_Wilchester_--Wilchester--Wilchester.
The reiteration had a peculiar interest for Stoner.

He had never heard Cotherstone nor Mallalieu mention Wilchester at any time since his first coming into their office.

The firm had no dealings with any firm at Wilchester.