"There are extremely private asylums and so-called sanatoriums where the discipline is strict, and no questions are asked.One sometimes reads in the papers of cases in which mild-mannered keepers in defending themselves against the attacks of violent patients are obliged to use force--with disastrous results.It is in such places that our investigations should begin.""Dear me! Dear me!" Mr.Grimby broke out."Isn't that going rather far? You surely don't think--""Mr.Tembarom's chief characteristic was that he was a practical and direct person.He would do what he had to do in exactly that businesslike manner.The inquiries I have been making have been as to the whereabouts of places in which a superfluous relative might be placed without attracting attention.""That is really astute, but--but--what do you think, Palford?" Mr.
Grimby turned to his partner, still wearing the shocked and disturbed expression.
"I have been recalling to mind a circumstance which probably bears upon the case," said Mr.Palford."Captain Palliser's mention of the portrait reminded me of it.I remember now that on Mr.Temple Barholm's first visit to the picture-gallery he seemed much attracted by the portrait of Miles Hugo.He stopped and examined it curiously.
He said he felt as if he had seen it before.He turned to it once or twice; and finally remarked that he might have seen some one like it at a great fancy-dress ball which had taken place in New York.""Had he been invited to the ball?" laughed Palliser.
"I did not gather that," replied Mr.Palford gravely."He had apparently watched the arriving guests from some railings near by--or perhaps it was a lamp-post--with other news-boys.""He recognized the likeness to Strangeways, no doubt, and it gave him what he calls a 'jolt,'" said Captain Palliser."He must have experienced a number of jolts during the last few months."Palford & Grimby's view of the matter continued to be marked by extreme distaste for the whole situation and its disturbing and irritating possibilities.The coming of the American heir to the estate of Temple Barholm had been trying to the verge of extreme painfulness; but, sufficient time having lapsed and their client having troubled them but little, they had outlived the shock of his first appearance and settled once more into the calm of their accustomed atmosphere and routine.That he should suddenly reappear upon their dignified horizon as a probable melodramatic criminal was a fault of taste and a lack of consideration beyond expression.To be dragged-into vulgar detective work, to be referred to in news-papers in a connection which would lead to confusing the firm with the representatives of such branches of the profession as dealt with persons who had committed acts for which in vulgar parlance they might possibly "swing," if their legal defenders did not "get them off," to a firm whose sole affairs had been the dealing with noble and ancient estates, with advising and supporting personages of stately name, and with private and weighty family confidences.If the worst came to the worst, the affair would surely end in the most glaring and odious notoriety: in head-lines and daily reports even in London, in appalling pictures of every one concerned in every New York newspaper, even in baffled struggles to keep abominable woodcuts of themselves--Mr.Edward James Palford and Mr.James Matthew Grimby--from being published in sensational journalistic sheets! Professional duty demanded that the situation should be dealt with, that investigation should be entered into, that the most serious even if conservative steps should be taken at once.With regard to the accepted report of Mr.James Temple Barholm's tragic death, it could not be denied that Captain Palliser's view of the naturalness of the origin of the mistake that had been made had a logical air.