[She reads this in a ringing voice and glances at him.]
[PIKE looks puzzled and depressed.]
"The present holder of the title came into it unexpectedly through a
series of accidental deaths. He was a younger son's younger son, and had
spent some years in Russia in business--what, I do not know--under
another name. I suppose he assumed it that the historic name of St.
Aubyn might not be tarnished by association with trade. He has spent so
much of his life out of England that it is difficult to find out a great
deal about him. Nothing here in his English record is seriously against
him; though everything he has is mortgaged over its value, the entail
having been broken.
[ETHEL pauses and looks at PIKE, who, much disturbed, rises, and crosses
the stage.]
"As to his son, the Honorable Almeric, there's no objection alleged
against his character. That's all I've been able to learn."
[She finishes with an air of triumphant finality, and rises with a
laugh.]
A terrible indictment! So that was what you counted on to convince me of
my mistake?
PIKE [distressed]. Yes--it _was_!
ETHEL. Do you assert there is _one_ word in this seriously discreditable
to the reputation of Lord Hawcastle or Mr. St. Aubyn?
PIKE [humbly]. No.
ETHEL. And you remember, it is the testimony offered by your own friend
[scornfully]--by your own detective!
PIKE [ruefully].
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