"The assumed Mr George Harrington," interposed the new-comer. "I beg your pardon, sir; until we have the most incontrovertible proofs of the truth of what you advance, this is Mr George Harrington to us; and you seem to forget the old adage: `Possession is nine points of the law.'" "Oh, no, I do not," said the young man quickly; "and I do not forget that, little as I know of the law, I have you and the other executor to call to account for improperly disposing of my estate." With a wholesome horror of the legal tedium of the profession to which he belonged, and startled at the prospect a lawsuit opened out, the old man sank back in his chair, and, for the moment completely taken aback, stared at his verbal assailant. "Pray do not misjudge Mr Hampton," said Gertrude coming to his help. "He was my grandfather's most trusted friend, and he has acted throughout with the strictest impartiality. If he has been mistaken-- which we do not know yet," she said, colouring deeply beneath the young man's admiring gaze, "he will, I am sure, do everything that is right." "I am sure he will, quite sure." "This is a terrible position in which we are all placed," continued Gertrude, with quiet, matter-of-fact courtesy. "Yes, a very terrible position, my dear," said the old lawyer, full of gratitude for the way in which she had come to his help when, to his annoyance, he had been completely nonplussed; "and this gentleman must do nothing rash." "Will it be rash to seize this scoundrel, and break his neck?" "Certainly, sir," said the old man, with the comic gravity of one who takes everything as the French say, _au pied de la lettre_. "You are in England now and not in the Far West, where your most famous Justice is Judge Lynch." "I wish he had hold of this man." "Yes, exactly, my dear sir; but listen to simple, matter-of-fact reason. You see, of course, how the executors are placed." "Oh, yes, I see," said the young man, who was watching Gertrude all the time. "Prove your position then, my dear sir, and rely upon it you shall have justice." "Am I to understand by these words that the executors will offer no opposition?" "I am sorry to say, sir, that the executors are powerless. They have, as they believed, done their duty conscientiously and well. Your actions for the moment, it seems to me, will be two. One for ejectment against Mr George Harrington." "Against the impostor, sir." The lawyer made a deprecatory motion. "The other against the unfortunate executors. Perhaps I am wrong, but all this is so sudden that I must confess to being a little off my regular balance."