"I only ask you to wait till Mr George--"

"Till this man comes back," interposed the other. "He will not come back."

"What authority have you for saying that?"

"Never mind, sir. I have been having a chat with Doctor Lawrence this morning, and he agrees with me."

"I am not going to allow myself to be influenced by what you and Doctor Lawrence have agreed to," said the lawyer sharply.

"Don't be angry with me, old chap."

"But you make me angry, sir. Once more, you must wait."

"I cannot afford to."

"Then I shall consult with Doctor Lawrence and take steps which will be very unpleasant for all parties, especially for you, sir, if your story is not genuine."

"You mean call in police aid?"

"I do, sir."

"Detectives," said the young man thoughtfully. "Well, they would, or should, run this man down, and put an end to the uncertainty. But it would be terribly unpleasant for Gertrude."

"You mean Miss Bellwood, sir."

"No, I do not. I mean for Gertrude Bellwood, my affianced wife. No; I don't like the detective proposition, with its publicity."

"Indeed!" said the lawyer, looking at him searchingly.

"Not on my own account, old gentleman. I am not at all afraid of being imprisoned as a rogue and a vagabond for making impudent pretensions; but you know how unpleasant police interference would be, and the matter getting into the papers."

"Quite right," said the doctor.

"I know all that, sir," replied the lawyer; "and therefore I advocated waiting."

"And I tell you I must act. Look here, sir, I'm in a very awkward predicament. I have had back this morning a refusal from San Francisco to honour a draft. The way in which this man has forestalled me makes me seem to my agents an impostor."

"Hum!"

"A hum?" said the young man laughing. "Well, call it so if you like."

"I never make jokes, sir. That was an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n."

"Good. Then here is what I propose. I will be my own detective, and see if I cannot run this man down. I want to stand face to face with him."

"That is quite right," said the doctor, who was fidgeting about like one who feels himself out of the conversation.

"And to do this I want a sufficient sum of money placed in my hands for current expenses."

"I could not for a moment tolerate such a proposal, sir," said the lawyer shortly.

"I will place the necessary funds in your hands," said the doctor.

"Thank you. And if I turn out to be a swindler?"

"Well," said the doctor, shrugging his shoulders, "I shall lose."

"No, you shall not, sir," cried the young man warmly, as he held out his hand. "You know that I am no cheat, Doctor Lawrence."

"Well, if you are," said the cheery old doctor, wringing the proffered hand, "you are the cleverest one I ever met. Now, tell Mr Hampton what you mean to do."

"One moment," said the lawyer quickly. "Look here. I have been speaking so far as James Harrington's executor. Not one penny will I consent to advance out of the estate; but if you will allow me, Mr Blank--"

"Mr George Harrington, sir."

"Mr Blank," persisted the lawyer.

"George Harrington, sir."

"When you have proved yourself to be he. You are to me now Mr Blank; and I say that I shall not allow my old friend Lawrence to bear this expense alone. As a lawyer and executor I will not stir a step, but as a friend, who has some slight belief in your story, I shall share with him."

The young man laughed.

"You're a rum old fellow, Mr Hampton, and some of these days we three will have some hearty laughs across the walnuts and the wine over all this worry."

"Yes, that we will," said Doctor Lawrence. "Over a gla.s.s of port."

"You see, gentlemen, I must get to work; for I find that, besides the pseudo George Harrington, I have another enemy to fight."

"Another?"

"Yes, gentlemen. Mr Saul Harrington--the next heir."

"I do not quite understand you," said the lawyer.

"I am sorry to say I do," said the doctor. "Saul Harrington is next heir, and there can be no doubt about his being strongly attached to our young friend Gertrude."

"Even if this be so," said the lawyer, "it does not strengthen your case, Mr Blank."

"Well, for the present, agreed then," said the young man smiling. "Mr Blank be it so. But it does strengthen my case. Now, gentlemen, I am going to be my own detective and I am fighting for a large stake."

"Yes, it is a big estate," said the lawyer drily.

"Hang the estate, sir. I was happy enough as a man without it, and I could be again. But I am fighting for my honour; and there is a greater stake still," he added with his eyes flashing, as he recalled his last interview with Gertrude.

"Well, sir, what do you propose doing?"

"I am in the enemy's camp, sir. Why should I reveal my plans?"