"They were
prudent, no doubt, and well meaning. He did not foresee that there
would be no opportunity for that interview with his solicitor."
"Look here, Greenacre, I Want to know how you found out first of all
that he'd married twice."
"Very simply; I took it for granted that he had. I am a student, as
you know, of genealogy, also of human nature in general. In my first
interview with Lord Polperro I let fall a word or two which
obviously alarmed him. That was quite enough. In his singular state
of mind he jumped to the conclusion that--as they say on the
stage--I knew everything; and, of course, I very soon did; as much,
that is to say, as he himself knew. He married at two-and-twenty a
young girl whom he met in Ireland; married her in his right
name--Trefoyle (not Clover)--and they travelled together for a year
or two. Then somehow they parted, and never saw or heard of each
other again. No, there was no child. I had little difficulty in
persuading his lordship to let me investigate this matter for him; I
did it with complete success.
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