The message was despatched, and after a long discussion as to the probabilities of reaching Saul Harrington before he left for Switzerland, and how soon an answer might be expected, they settled down to the daily routine of their lives. One duty now was Gertrude's nursing of the injured dog, who seemed, as he lay on the soft hay bed in the stable, very near his end. He lay for hours together without stirring, till he heard his mistress' step, and then he uttered a low whine, and feebly raised his head as his eyes sought hers before he lowered his muzzle again, as if it was too heavy for the strength he had left. Gertrude let many a tear fall upon the poor brute's head as she patted it gently and bandaged the wound, the dog submitting to what must have been a painful operation without so much as a whine, till the time came when he could get his head in his mistress' lap, and sink into a kind of stupor more than sleep. That day wore by, and there was no answer to the telegram. Then came the dinner hour, and with it the old lawyer, but not alone, Doctor Lawrence having once more accompanied him down to The Mynns. Their looks spoke volumes, but little was said till they were seated over the dessert; when, in response to one of Gertrude's inquiring looks, the Doctor leaned towards her, took her hand, and said gravely: "My dear child, I have said nothing, because I seem to have nothing to say." "But tell me what you think," said Gertrude imploringly. "Well, my dear, I think--but it must not influence us in any degree-- that this young man really is George Harrington." Gertrude tried to stifle the emotion she felt, as the doctor went on: "It is a puzzling business, my dear. We have had a very long interview at Hampton's chambers, and he certainly has impressed me strangely. Our friend here is like a rock, and he has been piling on to my head stories of impostures, and cases where pretenders have come forward, till I am completely bewildered." "Then if he is not the true George Harrington, let George Harrington himself come forward and say so. Why doesn't he come back, instead of running off in this mysterious way?" Mrs Hampton looked quite fiercely to right and left as she delivered herself of this speech. The old lawyer seemed to decline to take up the cudgels; he only tapped softly on the table. But Mrs Hampton's tongue was unloosed, and she turned the flow of her eloquence upon the doctor. "I say this is the right man," she cried; "everything goes to prove it. I have not said anything about this before, but I have noticed a great deal since I have been here, and I kept my lips sealed because I felt that I might be doing wrong in speaking, and, besides, I had no right." "What have you observed, then?" said the lawyer, turning upon her sharply.