"Very well, sir; very well; and so am I; and as you have called this morning, let me tell you that you have rewarded my friendly disposition towards you by taking a mean advantage and going down to The Mynns, again and again, like a spy upon the camp." "Gently, my dear sir, gently. I confess to going down to The Mynns partly by design, but it was by accident I met Miss Bellwood." "Accident?" exclaimed the old lawyer. "Yes, sir, accident; and even if it had not been, please have a little mercy. Put yourself in my place. I came over here eager to succeed to my estate, and to see the lady I was to marry. I saw her and I need not say was charmed with my grandfather's choice. There, I say it openly, I love her as the sweetest, most innocent girl I ever met; but instead of all going well, I am greeted as an impostor, and told that the young lady betrothed to me is engaged to another gentleman, my _alter ego_." "Yes, yes, yes; we know all that, sir, _ad nauseum_," cried the old lawyer. "Humph! quotation for quotation," muttered Doctor Lawrence. "You must wait, sir. You must wait." "My dear Hampton," said the doctor, "don't you think that we might sympathise a little more with our young friend?" "I do not acknowledge that this gentleman is our friend," said the lawyer sternly. "No, sir; and it does not seem to me that you are in any hurry to acknowledge me," said the young man laughing. "Indeed, sir," said the lawyer tartly. "I can only repeat my words--you must wait." "Can't wait any longer, sir. You could not if you were in my case." "I only ask you to wait till Mr George--" "Till this man comes back," interposed the other. "He will not come back." "What authority have you for saying that?" "Never mind, sir. I have been having a chat with Doctor Lawrence this morning, and he agrees with me." "I am not going to allow myself to be influenced by what you and Doctor Lawrence have agreed to," said the lawyer sharply. "Don't be angry with me, old chap." "But you make me angry, sir. Once more, you must wait." "I cannot afford to." "Then I shall consult with Doctor Lawrence and take steps which will be very unpleasant for all parties, especially for you, sir, if your story is not genuine." "You mean call in police aid?" "I do, sir." "Detectives," said the young man thoughtfully. "Well, they would, or should, run this man down, and put an end to the uncertainty. But it would be terribly unpleasant for Gertrude." "You mean Miss Bellwood, sir." "No, I do not. I mean for Gertrude Bellwood, my affianced wife. No; I don't like the detective proposition, with its publicity." "Indeed!" said the lawyer, looking at him searchingly. "Not on my own account, old gentleman. I am not at all afraid of being imprisoned as a rogue and a vagabond for making impudent pretensions; but you know how unpleasant police interference would be, and the matter getting into the papers." "Quite right," said the doctor.