"Now, sir, if you please, I am waiting for an explanation," he said in a low, angry voice. "Yet," said Mr Hampton, throwing himself back in his chair, thrusting up his glasses, and fixing his calm, cold eyes upon the visitor as he continued, "I do not grant that you have any right, sir, to demand this explanation. Your position should be that, if you consider you have a just claim, you should instruct a solicitor, and he would place himself in communication with me." "Hang all solicitors, sir!" cried the young man angrily, and his eyes seemed to flash with indignation. The old man made a gesture. "I beg your pardon, Mr Hampton. I believe you said you were a solicitor," he added quickly. "Go on, sir; I am not offended. On the contrary I rather like your display of anger. It makes me feel that you may be honest instead of an extremely clever pretender." "Honest, sir! Good Heavens! Put yourself in my place. Now, between man and man what does this mean?" "Simply what I have told you; but sit down, sir. This is a question for calm consideration, and you are walking up and down like--" "A wild beast in a cage. Yes, I know it; but who can be calm at a time like this? Pray excuse me and go on." "I have very little to tell you, sir. Perhaps, as the solicitor of the party in possession, I ought to make no admissions. I can merely tell you that nearly four months ago Mr George Harrington came over from America with indubitable proofs of his identity, and, as soon as the proper legal forms could be gone though, took possession." "Nearly four months ago? Here, stop a moment, sir. Was he a man about my height?" "Yes." "Rather darker?" The old lawyer bowed, and scrutinised the speaker carefully. "He had a quick, sharp way of speaking, and a habit of looking behind him as if in search of danger." "Exactly. You are describing Mr George Harrington most carefully." "The villain! The hound! And I thought it was for robbery only. Well, one knows how to treat a man like that when we meet." He showed his regular white teeth, as his brow puckered up, and there was a look of fierce determination in his eyes as startling as his next act, which was to slip his hand behind him, and draw a small heavy-looking revolver from his pocket. This he examined quickly as he tried the lock. "Put that away, sir," cried Mr Hampton sternly. "You are not in the Far West now but in civilised England. Give me that pistol instantly." The young man handed the weapon without a moment's hesitation. "I beg your pardon, Mr Hampton," he said. "Temper, got the better of me." He threw himself into a chair. "Will you let me speak out quietly and calmly?" "Go on, sir," said the lawyer. There was a pause, during which the young man seemed to be collecting himself, and then he said in a deep, clear voice: "You are quite right, sir. This is a question for calm settlement, and as I have right on my side I can afford to wait."