"But surely you have not fetched me back from Switzerland, sir, because my cousin has gone off somewhere on the spree?" "There are very grave considerations in connection with this matter, Mr Saul," said the old lawyer; "and I deemed it my duty, seeing how near a relative you are, to send for you back." "But surely you will explain; give some stronger reason for dragging me here?" "Well, sir, I will; and, as everything is known to Miss Bellwood, here, and my wife, I will speak out at once." "Then for heaven's sake do, sir; and pray don't dole out your words as if they were those of a letter, at a shilling a line." The old lawyer took no notice of the last words, but said quietly: "There has been a suggestion, sir, that the missing man had collected together a large sum, and has gone off with no intention of returning." "For the present," said Saul, with a quick glance at Gertrude. "At all, sir." "Oh, rubbish. Who has dared to insinuate that? Bah! preposterous. Collect a few hundreds, and leave behind this fine estate. My dear Mr Hampton, are you serious?" "Ideas, these, sir, which sound strange; but to which colour is given by the assertion now made that the person in question is not the true George Harrington, but an impostor." Saul Harrington leaped from his seat with a horrified and startled look in his eyes, and then sank back, grasping the arms and staring wildly at the old man, his jaw dropping, but no words coming from his lips. "Yes, I surprise you, of course," continued the old lawyer, in his calm, unruffled, legal manner. Saul Harrington uttered a gasp, as he seemed to make a tremendous effort to master his emotion. "Yes, yes, of course," he cried, "you surprise me terribly. Then-- then--if he is an impostor the property would naturally fall to me." "No," said the lawyer, as Saul sat back in his chair, with his teeth set and a peculiarly rigid aspect in his face, "the property only comes to you in the event of George Harrington's death without issue." "Yes," said Saul, in a hoarse whisper. "And we do not know that George Harrington dead." "No, no; of course not," said Saul hastily. "I begin to see now why you summoned me back. But--impostor--my cousin--the man I left here, accepted by you all?" "Yourself included, Mr Saul," said the lawyer gravely. "Yes, of course--of course--his proofs of identity--of course." "They were very strong, Mr Saul, and upon the strength of them he has obtained from the estate ten thousand pounds in hard cash, and he has disappeared." "But it is impossible! An impostor?" said Saul hoarsely. "No, no, no; you do not think so." "My position forbids me to offer an opinion. At least, I consider it does, sir." "But what proofs have you?" cried Saul, who seemed to be recovering himself. "You are keeping something back. Who says that George Harrington is an impostor?"