“Well, Drusa, you have seen we have not had one moment to ourselves to-day; and we may not have to-morrow. I knew—I felt instinctively that you would be too much excited to sleep to-night, so I came to you, my dear—partly, as you say, to cheer you up, but partly, also, to talk of something that happened to-day.” “Yes—thank you, dear Anna.” “You have confidence enough in me, I hope, Drusilla, to feel that you and I can talk upon some ticklish subjects without offence, since I speak only in your interest.” “Yes, Anna.” “Well, then, we met Alick in the Tower. That seems certain. But _did_ I hear and see right, and _did_ the guide point out our Alick and called him Lord Kilcrackam?” “Lord Killcrichtoun. Yes, Anna.” “And furthermore, _did_ I dream it, or did I hear something said between you and grandpa—something that did not reach my ears quite distinctly, because I was not very near you at the time, and you spoke quite low, as you always do—something in short, to the effect that our Alick is the same young American gentleman who claimed a certain Scotch barony in right of his mother?” “Yes, it was Alick who claimed, and made good his claim to the barony of Killcrichtoun. I should have thought Dick, as much as he is about town, would have found it out before this.” “Oh dear, no, he has not. It would have been the merest chance if he had, in a town where there is so much more—so very much more—to be talked about than a young man’s succession to a petty lordship. By the way, how did _you_ know it, Drusilla?” “The first day of our being here I was standing at the front window and saw him leave the house and walk across the square. I was very much startled, and called the waiter, and, pointing to Alick, inquired if that gentleman were stopping here. The man told me that he was here for the present, but would leave in the evening, and that he was Lord Killcrichtoun. And then there flashed upon me all at once the idea that he was the very same young American gentleman who had claimed the title.” “And you never told us about it,” said Anna, in surprise. “I—shrank from the subject; and, besides, I did not think you would care to hear. You remember little Lenny’s losing a lock of hair?” “Certainly; and it was cut off by his father, I suppose.” “Yes, in the absence of Pina, and while Lenny was in the temporary charge of the chambermaid.” “And you never mentioned it to us.” “Dear Anna, you know I never bring up Alick’s name unnecessarily.” “Well, but I must tell Dick all about it if you have no objection.” “None in the world. I wish him to know it.” “But I am astonished at Alexander, merging the honest manliness of an American citizen in the empty title of a Scotch barony! However, it is all of a piece with his late mad proceedings. Now, there, I see from your reproving countenance that I must utter no more blasphemies against your idol; but now if the divine Alexander is Lord Killcrichtoun, what are _you_, my dear?”