Larcher faced round suddenly, struck by the significance of the remark. He was a clever young man, but could not see clearly before him, and honest himself, was far from suspecting dishonesty in others. Instead of agreeing with Tait in his estimate of Hilliston, he vehemently defended the lawyer. "You must not speak like that, Tait," he said angrily. "Mr. Hilliston is an honest man, and has been like a father to me. I owe all to him." "Perhaps you do," retorted Tait significantly. "However, we need not quarrel over the matter. I am content to wait, and will bet you five pounds that the inquiry is made to-night, and the letter is sent to-morrow." Larcher did not accept the bet thus confidently offered, but walked on stiffly with his head in the air. He was seriously annoyed with Tait for daring to cast an imputation on the character of a man to whom he owed all. Never could he bring himself to believe that Hilliston intended him evil, and deemed that the lawyer, despite his manifest reluctance, would help him by all the means in his power to discover the assassin. Nevertheless, Tait proved to be in the right. As the two young men passed down the stairs on their way to the theater--whence Tait insisted on taking Claude with a view of distracting his mind--they were met by the porter. "Beg pardon, sir," addressing himself to Tait, "but a gentleman called some time ago and asked for you and Mr. Larcher." "Who was he? Why did you not show him up?" "He would not give his name, sir, and did not wish to come up. He only asked if you had a box for the theater, and when I said you had stalls, drove off." "Ah! Can you describe his appearance?" "Not very tall, sir. Clean shaven, with white hair and a red face. Looked like a country gentleman, sir." "Thank you! that will do," replied Tait quietly, and left the house with Claude. For a few minutes he enjoyed his companion's astonishment at this proof of Hilliston's double-dealing, and it was not till they were in the cab that he spoke. "Well," he said, smiling, "was I not right when I said that he would make the first move?" "You are right so far," muttered Claude, who looked ill at ease, "but I cannot bring myself to suspect my guardian." "You want another proof, perhaps. Well, we will wait for your invitation to Kensington Gore." Claude shook his head, and seemed so indisposed to talk that Tait judged it wise to humor his silence. The young man's thoughts were anything but pleasant. He had been accustomed to look up to Hilliston as the model of an English gentleman, honest, honorable, upright, and noble. If, then, this suspicion of Tait's should prove correct,--and the last act of Hilliston certainly gave color to it,--where was he to find honest and honorable men? If Hilliston proved false, then Claude felt he could no longer trust the human race. Still he fought against the supposition, and secretly hoped that the second prophecy of his friend would not be fulfilled.