"I know all that, sir," replied the lawyer; "and therefore I advocated waiting." "And I tell you I must act. Look here, sir, I'm in a very awkward predicament. I have had back this morning a refusal from San Francisco to honour a draft. The way in which this man has forestalled me makes me seem to my agents an impostor." "Hum!" "A hum?" said the young man laughing. "Well, call it so if you like." "I never make jokes, sir. That was an ejaculation." "Good. Then here is what I propose. I will be my own detective, and see if I cannot run this man down. I want to stand face to face with him." "That is quite right," said the doctor, who was fidgeting about like one who feels himself out of the conversation. "And to do this I want a sufficient sum of money placed in my hands for current expenses." "I could not for a moment tolerate such a proposal, sir," said the lawyer shortly. "I will place the necessary funds in your hands," said the doctor. "Thank you. And if I turn out to be a swindler?" "Well," said the doctor, shrugging his shoulders, "I shall lose." "No, you shall not, sir," cried the young man warmly, as he held out his hand. "You know that I am no cheat, Doctor Lawrence." "Well, if you are," said the cheery old doctor, wringing the proffered hand, "you are the cleverest one I ever met. Now, tell Mr Hampton what you mean to do." "One moment," said the lawyer quickly. "Look here. I have been speaking so far as James Harrington's executor. Not one penny will I consent to advance out of the estate; but if you will allow me, Mr Blank--" "Mr George Harrington, sir." "Mr Blank," persisted the lawyer. "George Harrington, sir." "When you have proved yourself to be he. You are to me now Mr Blank; and I say that I shall not allow my old friend Lawrence to bear this expense alone. As a lawyer and executor I will not stir a step, but as a friend, who has some slight belief in your story, I shall share with him." The young man laughed. "You're a rum old fellow, Mr Hampton, and some of these days we three will have some hearty laughs across the walnuts and the wine over all this worry." "Yes, that we will," said Doctor Lawrence. "Over a glass of port." "You see, gentlemen, I must get to work; for I find that, besides the pseudo George Harrington, I have another enemy to fight." "Another?" "Yes, gentlemen. Mr Saul Harrington--the next heir." "I do not quite understand you," said the lawyer. "I am sorry to say I do," said the doctor. "Saul Harrington is next heir, and there can be no doubt about his being strongly attached to our young friend Gertrude." "Even if this be so," said the lawyer, "it does not strengthen your case, Mr Blank." "Well, for the present, agreed then," said the young man smiling. "Mr Blank be it so. But it does strengthen my case. Now, gentlemen, I am going to be my own detective and I am fighting for a large stake." "Yes, it is a big estate," said the lawyer drily.