"And you?" Jim questioned.
Petrie handed him a card as he said, "Malcolm Petrie, of the firm of
Crooks, Petrie & Petrie, solicitors, London, and at your lordship's
service."
Before Jim could speak, Petrie continued: "Pardon my abruptness in
coming on you unawares. Most of the time I allowed myself has been given
to locating you."
"Well, Mr. Petrie, go on," was all Jim said, as he turned the card in
his hand. He hardly knew what course to pursue. Should he deny or
acknowledge to this trustworthy man, who was regarding him with such
sympathetic interest, that he was Jim Wynnegate? A hunger to learn
something of the world he had left, to be allowed to listen longer to
the cultivated speech that fell with such beauty on his starved ears,
assailed him.
"Crooks, Petrie & Petrie have been your family solicitors for so many
years that I had hoped to be remembered by your lordship." Petrie was
determined not to allow this man to escape for a moment from
acknowledging his identity, so he pressed him close with his knowledge.
"Mr. Petrie," Jim said, "we are plain people out here, where every man
is as good as every other man--and a good deal better," he added, as he
remembered the democratic status of the boys. "So please address me as
Mr. Carston. Won't you be seated?" As he spoke he pointed to the bench
near the hut.
Petrie adjusted his glasses, the better to observe the man, as he said:
"Since you desire it. Only I have come a very long way to inform you
that you have a right to the title."
The cause of Mr. Petrie's presence flashed through Jim's mind. "Then my
cousin--"
"Is dead, my lord--Mr. Carston."