"There are none left now," he explained, as he set down his glass.

"The last of them died, I believe, in England." His eyes turned full upon the earl, but their glance seemed entirely idle.

"It was in consequence of that that my father was enabled to purchase the estate." Mr.Caryll accounted it no lie that he suppressed the fact that the father to whom he referred was but his father by adoption.
Relief spread instantly upon Lord Ostermore's countenance.

Clearly, he saw, here was pure coincidence, and nothing more.

Indeed, what else should there have been?
What was it that he had feared?
He did not know.
Still he accounted it an odd matter, and said so.
"What is odd ?" inquired Mr.Caryll.