"Then why should I not turn the tables on him, and take possession here?" "It cannot be done, sir," said the old man firmly. "But suppose I insist." "If you are the true George Harrington, sir, you will act as a gentleman should, and take proper steps to make good your claim." "Ah! now you disarm me. There: I will go now. Miss Bellwood, Mrs Hampton, whatever happens in the future you may believe in me. Good-night." He shooks hands again. "Mr Hampton, I shall come in the morning and have a long talk with you." "You are staying in town?" "I shall stay in town at Jay's Hotel, Surrey Street." "Then you will be close to my chambers in Lincoln's Inn. I will be there, and expect you at twelve." "And when shall I see Doctor Lawrence?" "At twelve to-morrow, at my place." "Good-night, then; you, too, will shake hands." "As soon as you prove yourself to be George Harrington." "Quite right, sir. Good-night. You will show me the way out, granny." "And with a sorrowful heart, my dear," said the old woman. "To think of my having to turn you away from your own old home." "Only for a while, old lady," said the young man; and passing his arm round her he left the room. No one moved till the gate had been heard to clang, when, without word or look, Gertrude turned and hurried up to her chamber, to fling herself upon her knees, sobbing violently. "And I have promised to be his wife," she moaned. "What shall I do? What shall I do?" "Well, Phineas," said Mrs Hampton, after she had stood looking frowningly at her husband for some time as he sat tapping the table, "what have you to say to all this?" "Eh? Nothing." "But you see that was the real man." "No, I don't. He must prove it." "But this other one." "Is to us Mr George Harrington." "But when he comes back from Paris what will he say?" "I'm beginning to think, Rachel, that he has gone." "Well, we know he has gone." "But I mean for good." "He couldn't. It's not in him. Gone for bad, you mean." "I mean gone, never to come back." "Good gracious, Phineas! Do you think he knows?" "It is impossible to say; but he has had ten thousand pounds in hard cash." "The wretch!" "And I suppose I shall have to be answerable for the amount to the rightful heir." "Why, Phineas, it would half ruin you if you had to pay." "Yes," said the old man dolefully. "But you think this is the right man?" "Yes, Rachel; and I'm afraid I have got myself in a dreadful mess." CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. "THERE IT IS AGAIN." "My dear Gertrude, I did not oppose you after you had made up your mind to carry out your guardian's wishes; but I'm so pleased with the way in which things have turned out that I hardly know what to say." "But you forget, Mrs Hampton; you forget that I have promised to be that man's wife." "Well, what of that, my dear?" "What of that?" "Yes; you are a woman, aren't you?" "Of course, but--"