His first step was to put a watch upon Lady Farrington’s movements. Mr. Oozenam, the well-known private detective, was employed, who set about his task with his usual skill and despatch. Within a week or two he came with his first report. ‘Lady Farrington goes once every month, often twice, to Deadham School, in Essex. She has done so these five years past and more.’ ‘Of course. The cub, her _protégé_, is there. Well?’ ‘A ward of her ladyship’s, Herbert Larkins, is at school there. He is now seventeen years of age, is tall and well grown, has fair curly hair and greyish blue eyes. Her ladyship is said to take an immense interest in him. Their interviews are long. She must be very liberal to him; the lad is always well provided with money which he spends freely. He is a fair scholar, has been taught especially to ride and shoot, has learnt foreign languages and all extras.’ ‘That is enough, Mr. Oozenam. You have handsomely earned your fee.’ ‘It has gone very far,’ Sir Rupert said to himself as soon as he was alone. ‘What an idiot I have been not to have observed her more closely! But let us hope it is not too late even now.’ And then, after a long cogitation, he called for his carriage, and driving first into the neighbouring country town, where he made one or two calls, he bade the coachman next proceed to Farrington Court. He asked for Lady Farrington, and was in due course ushered into her private boudoir. ‘The time has come, Lady Farrington, as you were good enough to say some time back--the time for plain speaking. I mean to put an end to your tomfooleries once for all. So long as they merely made you appear ridiculous I could have borne with you, although you scandalized our name. But I cannot permit you to plot against me and mine without protest and something more.’ ‘Plot?’ she asked, in a voice which anger and agitation combined to make nearly inarticulate. ‘I have discovered all. You have kept your secret well, but I have found it out. This base-born pretender--’ ‘He is my own grandson. I have the proofs.’ ‘They will not bear the test of legal scrutiny, you know that. On the contrary, I can show that the whole affair is a conspiracy from beginning to end. That this Larkins is an adventurer--’ ‘You will not harm him, surely? It is I, only I, who am to blame.’ ‘I shall hand him over to the police, prosecute him, and make him pay dearly for his attempt to defraud.’ ‘You would not dare,’ she cried aghast. Surprise and indignation combined to confuse her mind, and she did not pause to consider that he had no grounds of procedure; that his threats were vain, and could never be put into execution. ‘I shall not spare him nor you.’