"Silence, both of you! I did not tell you to come here to have this nonsense, but to answer any questions which these gentlemen might wish to ask you. Back to your classes, both of you, and mind that I have no trouble with either of you! If you cannot be friendly, keep apart!" "I am sure that I want to," muttered Elgert, as he went; but he only spoke loud enough for the words to reach Ralph's ears. It was very hard to keep cool and pay attention to his work; but Ralph remembered his promise to his good friends, and he set sternly to the tasks before him, only to be interrupted an hour afterwards by the doctor sending for him again; and this time--how hot and angry he came all in a moment!--it was to be questioned by Lord Elgert, who sat there as cold, as haughty, and overbearing as ever. "Now, young man," he said, when Ralph entered, "I want to hear, for myself, this remarkable story." Ralph paused a moment. With a strong effort he mastered himself. If he was a standard-bearer, he must remember to give soft and polite answers, so he said politely-- "I am afraid that I have little to tell, sir, that I have not told already; and, unfortunately, it does not seem to be believed." "Never mind that. Begin at the beginning, and tell me all that occurred." So Ralph complied, and Lord Elgert sat listening with frowning face and watchful eyes; and Ralph could see that he, like his son, really did believe the story, even though he pretended not to. "Well, well, doctor," said his lordship, when the tale was told, "I am inclined to think that it is a case of sleepwalking----" "But did I put the ladder against the window in my sleep, sir?" asked Ralph. "The detectives did not think that, nor do you. I have no interest in inventing such a story; and I have no wish to do anything to annoy your son, so long as he leaves me alone----" "I do not think that the boy dreamed it," said the doctor. And Lord Elgert frowned. "Hum! Hark, boy! I suppose that it was not your own father, come to see you, eh?" Then up started Ralph indignantly, and cried-- "You have no right to insult me like that! Why should you? I know nothing of you, and yet, upon the only two occasions when we have met, you have spoken in that way. My father! Why should he come like a thief at night? He has never done anything to be ashamed of. Never, I say, in spite of the tale you told. That tale is not true!" "Each to his own opinion, young man," retorted Lord Elgert drily. "You take my advice. Attend to your studies, learn all you can, and then go back to the land you came from; for you will get on best there!"