By half an hour before midnight her guests had gone. Hanky and Panky were given to understand that they must still be tired, and had better go to bed. So was the Mayor; so were her sons and daughters, except of course George, who was waiting for her with some anxiety, for he had seen that she had something serious to tell him. Then she went down into the study. Her son embraced her as she entered, and moved an easy chair for her, but she would not have it. “No; I will have an upright one.” Then, sitting composedly down on the one her son placed for her, she said-- “And now to business. But let me first tell you that the Mayor was told, twenty years ago, all the more important part of what you will now hear. He does not yet know what has happened within the last few hours, but either you or I will tell him to-morrow.” CHAPTER IX: INTERVIEW BETWEEN YRAM AND HER SON “What did you think of Panky?” “I could not make him out. If he had not been a Bridgeford Professor I might have liked him; but you know how we all of us distrust those people.” “Where did you meet him?” “About two hours lower down than the statues.” “At what o’clock?” “It might be between two and half-past.” “I suppose he did not say that at that hour he was in bed at his hotel in Sunch’ston. Hardly! Tell me what passed between you.” “He had his permit open before we were within speaking distance. I think he feared I should attack him without making sure whether he was a foreign devil or no. I have told you he said he was Professor Panky.” “I suppose he had a dark complexion and black hair like the rest of us?” “Dark complexion and hair purplish rather than black. I was surprised to see that his eyelashes were as light as my own, and his eyes were blue like mine--but you will have noticed this at dinner.” “No, my dear, I did not, and I think I should have done so if it had been there to notice.” “Oh, but it was so indeed.” “Perhaps. Was there anything strange about his way of talking?” “A little about his grammar, but these Bridgeford Professors have often risen from the ranks. His pronunciation was nearly like yours and mine.” “Was his manner friendly?” “Very; more so than I could understand at first. I had not, however, been with him long before I saw tears in his eyes, and when I asked him whether he was in distress, he said I reminded him of a son whom he had lost and had found after many years, only to lose him almost immediately for ever. Hence his cordiality towards me.” “Then,” said Yram half hysterically to herself, “he knew who you were. Now, how, I wonder, did he find that out?” All vestige of doubt as to who the man might be had now left her. “Certainly he knew who I was. He spoke about you more than once, and wished us every kind of prosperity, baring his head reverently as he spoke.” “Poor fellow! Did he say anything about Higgs?”