“That’s him coming now. Don’t be afraid of Uncle Isaac, sir: he’s as harmless as a child----” Gordon came in at that moment, but stopped dead at the sight of the visitor. He was in his shirt-sleeves, he carried a duster in his hand, his front was covered with a large white apron and a bib that was kept in place by a pin. Bobbie could not speak--he could only stare and stare. “By heavens, it’s--Uncle Isaac!” he said in a voice that was almost inaudible to Mr. Superbus. “You know him, sir?” he smiled. “I thought it would be very strange if you didn’t. Members of the same family, so to speak, and very likely inflicted in the same way.” “Ye-yes, I know him.” Mr. Superbus approached the unhappy object of their discussion. “Do you want something, Uncle Isaac?” he asked kindly, and patted Gordon’s arm. So broken was Mr. Selsbury’s spirit that his keeper remained alive and uninjured. “Yes--no,” he said hoarsely. Julius shook his head. “He can’t make up his mind about anything. It takes you that way. I wonder how he ever got married.” Gordon steadied himself. “Where is--Aunt Lizzie?” he gulped. “In her room, Uncle Isaac, reading.” For a second Gordon’s face was contorted. “Don’t call me uncle,” he grated, holding himself in hand. “I’m not _your_ uncle, anyway.” “No, sir,” admitted Julius. “I haven’t got any uncles. Not as far as I know. They run in some families and they don’t run in others.” Suddenly his brow clouded, and he glared at Gordon with such intense malignity that even Bobbie quailed. “Here--I’ve just got an idea in my head, sir,” he slowly, “a sort of inspiration. _Is_ that Uncle Isaac?” Bobbie started. “Eh?” “Do you know Uncle Isaac?” The idea or inspiration had taken firm hold of his imagination. “Suppose Double Dan was passin’ himself off as him!” Bobbie looked past the man to his brother. Gordon was frowning and shaking his head. He wished to keep in the character of the patriarch for some extraordinary reason. “Oh, yes,” said Bobbie, “that is Uncle Isaac.” He was almost breathless. Julius was not immediately convinced. “Are you sure?” dubiously. Bobbie became very confident. “Oh, rather! That is Uncle Isaac all right--how absurd, of course it is Uncle Isaac. I knew him in a minute.” No man readily sacrifices his inspirations--Julius was but human, though there were moments when this was hard to believe. “Oh!” he said disappointedly. “Mind you, Double Dan’s clever.” “Nonsense!” said Bobbie with loud scorn. “He couldn’t impersonate Uncle Isaac. I would know him anywhere!” “Oh, couldn’t he ...!” sneered Superbus. “You don’t know Double Dan!” Bobbie had done some quick thinking. He must talk to Gordon alone. Mr. Superbus being impervious to the hints which followed: “I want to have a little talk with my uncle,” said Bobbie, “on family business. Do you mind leaving us alone for a minute?” Julius was in two minds about the matter.