"We can talk better sitting," said he. "I should like an explanation of this. You say that my name is Wilson, and that I boarded with you." "At Lambeth. I'll take my oath to it." "Had your boarder red hair and a red beard?" "Red as a tomato. But you can buy wigs and false beards. Eyes, as I say, you cannot change." "Had this Wilson eyes like mine?" asked Frankly eagerly. "There ain't a scrap of difference, Mr. Wilson. Your eyes are the same now as they were then." "One moment. Had this man you think me to be two teeth missing in his lower jaw--two front teeth?" "He had. Not that his teeth were of the best." Franklin drew down his lip. "You will see that I have all my teeth." "H'm!" Mrs. Benker sniffed. "False teeth can be bought." "I fear you would find these teeth only too genuine," said the man quietly. "But I quite understand your mistake." "My mistake?" Mrs. Benker shook her head vehemently. "I'm not the one to make mistakes." "On this occasion you have done so; but the mistake is pardonable. Mrs.--Mrs.--what is your name?" "Mrs. Benker, sir. And you know it." "Excuse me, I do not know it. The man who was your lodger, and whom you accuse me of being, is my brother." "Your brother!" echoed the landlady, amazed. "Yes, and a bad lot he is. Never did a hand's turn in all his life. I daresay while he was with you he kept the most irregular hours?" "He did--most irregular." "Out all night at times, and in all day? And again, out all day and in for the night?" "You describe him exactly." Mrs. Benker peered into the clean-shaven face in a puzzled manner. "Your hair is black, your voice is changed, and only the eyes remain." "My brother and I have eyes exactly the same. I guessed your mistake when you spoke. I assure you I am not my brother." "Well, sir," said the woman, beginning to think she had made a mistake after all, "I will say your voice is not like his. It was low and soft, while yours, if you'll excuse me mentioning it, is hard, and not at all what I'd call a love-voice." Grim as Franklin was, he could not help laughing at this last remark. "I quite understand. You only confirm what I say. My brother has a beautiful voice, Mrs. Benker; and much harm he has done with it amongst your sex." "He never harmed me," said Mrs. Benker, bridling. "I am a respectable woman and a widow with one son. But your brother----" "He's a blackguard," interrupted Franklin; "hand and glove with the very worst people in London. You may be thankful he did not cut your throat or steal your furniture." "Lord!" cried Mrs. Benker, astounded, "was he that dangerous?" "He is so dangerous that he ought to be shut up. And if I could lay hands on him I'd get the police to shut him up. He's done no end of mischief. Now I daresay he had a red cross dangling from his watch-chain." "Yes, he had. What does it mean?"