"Certainly, sir. You know it concerns me very closely." "Ye-es," said the lawyer, "true. Mr George Harrington?" "Yes, sir. Mr Hampton, I am George Harrington." "You will excuse me, I am sure." "Oh, yes, old gentleman, go ahead." "You see Doctor Lawrence and I are the late Mr Harrington's executors, and we have a duty to perform. In the pursuit of that duty we shall have to ask questions that may seem impertinent." "Oh, I don't mind. Quite right. I'll answer, only let's get it done. Here! I like dogs," he said softly to Gertrude, as he patted his leg, chirruped, and Bruno wagged his tail, trotted toward him, and then turned off, and went to the other side of where Gertrude was seated. "Ha, ha, ha! Dog wants to hear first whether I am the genuine article." Saul watched him closely, and the doctor and lawyer exchanged glances, as if satisfied by the bluff nonchalant manner of the claimant, who raised his eyes now, and looked long and searchingly at the portrait whose eyes met his. "Will you be good enough, sir, to tell me whose son you are?" "Eh? George and Isabel Harrington's." "And when you were born?" "No! Hang it all, sir, that's a poser. Can't recollect being born." The lawyer raised his eyebrows. "Somewhere about five-and-twenty years ago, I believe; but I've led such a rough life out there, that you mustn't ask me any questions about dates or books." "Can you tell me anything about your childhood?" "Oh, yes. Father had a ranche, and he went gold-digging, and prospecting, and we had an old nigger servant, who used to wash and cook and do everything; and a half-breed chap, half Indian, half Englishman, who used to take me out in the woods; and old Jake, that was the nigger, used to give me rides on his back." "But I mean about your earlier life." "No; can't go back any farther than that." "You remember your grandfather, of course?" "Eh? No, how should I remember a man I never saw?" There was a pause here, and the young man looked sharply from one to the other, as the old lawyer cleared his throat. "Will you be good enough to tell us any little act that you can recall." "Well, I haven't a very good memory, gentlemen, but I've got a few notes and letters in my pocket-book." "Ha! documentary evidence," said the lawyer, brightening up, as the young man took a well-worn letter-case from his pocket. "Here's the old man's letter to me about a watch I sent him." Gertrude's face, which had seemed pained and full of anxious care brightened at this, and Saul bit his lip. "To be sure--yes," said the lawyer, passing the letter to Doctor Lawrence, who smiled and nodded. "Then here are a few notes I made about some remittances I sent home." "To be sure--yes," said the lawyer, eagerly scanning the pencilled entries in the book. "Anything else, my dear sir?"