"Any address to this name, sir?" asked Mr. Philpott.
"None. Mr. Bartholomew Whittingham is, or was--for I understand he is dead--a gentleman of considerable fortune; Mr. Basil Whittingham is his nephew; the lawyers whose names I have given you transacted the old gentleman's business for many years, but I am not aware whether they have continued to do so."
"Mr. Bartholomew Whittingham had neither wife nor children, and some years since it was his intention to leave all his property to his nephew. The young man, however, offended his uncle, and the old gentleman thereupon informed his nephew that he had destroyed the will he had made in his favour, and that Mr. Basil Whittingham might consider himself disinherited. Do you understand it thus far?"
"The relations between the uncle and his nephew were completely broken off. Mr. Basil Whittingham--who had some private fortune of his own, but had got rid of it--being disappointed in his expectations, left England for Australia, where he resided for a considerable time."
"Five or six. When he was near his end the uncle relented of his decision, and made another will--I am supposing that he really destroyed the first, which may or may not have been the case--by which his original intention was carried out, and his nephew was constituted sole heir to the property."
"This property, I believe, was not in real estate, but in cash and securities which were easily convertible. The knowledge of his kindness reached the nephew's ears in Australia, and he returned home and took possession of the fortune."
"I wish these details to be verified, or otherwise, Mr. Philpott."
"I wish also to ascertain where Mr. Basil Whittingham is now residing."
"A very slight one, I am afraid. The last I heard of the nephew was that about eighteen months ago he was in Paris, in the company of a Mr. Edward Kettlewell, a money-lender, whose offices are, or were, in London. I am under the impression that Mr. Basil Whittingham and Mr. Kettlewell may have had some business transactions with each other. If so, it should not be difficult to trace Mr. Basil Whittingham through Mr. Kettlewell."
"It may I be more difficult than you imagine," said Mr. Philpott. "These money-lenders are difficult persons to deal with. They are as jealous of their clients as a cat of her kittens. 'Hands off,' they cry; 'this is my bird.' Hold hard a minute, sir. I have this year's 'London Directory,' downstairs."