Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/152

 the case, Mr. Patello, and some that I needn't go into now. I'm sure, however, that the young lady I've mentioned is the daughter of Matthew Mortover and your sister Louisa, and I'm very anxious to find her. You feel confident that the present Mortovers know nothing about her?"

Mr. Patello shook his head with convinced assurance.

"I'm quite sure of that, sir!" he said. "If anything had been known at Mortover Grange of the existence of this young lady we should have heard of it from my sister-in-law, Mrs. Clagne, when she was here recently. Mrs. Clagne, is, so to speak, the presiding genius of that house! The present Mortover is a young man who was brought up from infancy by Mrs. Clagne—she's a mother to him and naturally knows and has a good deal to do with all his affairs. No, sir—the existence of a child of Matthew Mortover was certainly not known to Mrs. Clagne when she was here, or I should have heard of it."

"You don't think Mrs. Clagne may have mentioned it to Mrs. Patello, your wife?" suggested Wedgwood.

"I'm quite sure nothing of that sort was mentioned, sir. My wife would tell you so herself if she were at home. But she's away