Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/219

 was a bachelor, whose establishment was kept up by a housekeeper. Was this a recent marriage—and if the bride and bridegroom were off on what was probably a flight as well as a honeymoon, to which of the two Americas had they gone—North or South? And from which English port—there were several to choose from: Southampton, Liverpool, London, Plymouth; it would take a small army of men to watch the departure of steamers from those places, supposing the fugitives were not off already. Still, something must be done—and in the idea of doing it, he went off to see the man who had signed the verifications requisite for both passports.

This was a solicitor, Mr. Morgan Pugh, whose office was in Wandsworth Road, and not far from Thomas Wraypoole's old warehouse. Mr. Pugh, a youthful gentleman who had apparently just commenced practice, was at liberty, said his one office-boy, and the detective was shown in to him.

"I called, Mr. Pugh, to make an enquiry," said Wedgwood, after explaining who he was. "You recently signed the verifications necessary for the issuing of two passports—one to Mr. Thomas Wraypoole, the other to his wife."

Mr. Pugh started, and stared at his visitor incredulously.