"I went to see nothing," replied Gore, dropping back into his chair with a disgusted air. "I don't sneak round in that way. When my grandfather kicked me out of the house, I said good-bye to Alice and came to London. I saw you, to get some money, and afterwards I enlisted. I never knew that Sir Simon was in town till Conniston told me. I never knew he lived in Crimea Square till you explained. My duties have kept me hard at work all the time. And even if they hadn't," said the young man, wrathfully, "I certainly wouldn't go making love to servants to gain information about my own people." "Quite so," said Durham, smoothly. "Then why--" "Drop the subject, Mark." "Sit down and be quiet, Bernard," said Conniston, pulling him back into his seat, for he had again risen. "Mark has something to say." "If you will let me say it," said Durham, with the air of a man severely tried by a recalcitrant witness. "Go on, then," said Bernard, and flung himself into his chair in a rather sullen manner. His troubles had worn his nerves thin, and even from his old schoolfellow he was not prepared to take any scolding. All the same, he secretly saw that he was accusing Durham of taking a liberty where none was meant. "It's this way," said the lawyer, when Gore was smoothed down for the time being. "We know that Beryl hates you." "He wants the money." "I know that." Durham smiled when he thought of the destroyed will; but he could hardly explain his smile. "Well, it is strange that the description given by the maid of this soldier--and a yeoman, mind you--should be like you. Have you a double?" "Not that I know of." "Then someone is impersonating you so as to arouse the wrath of your grandfather against you. Sir Simon is a proud old man, and the idea that you condescended to flirt with--" "But I didn't, I tell you!" cried the exasperated Gore. "No. We know that. But Sir Simon, judging from his letter, thinks so." "He has no right to do that. My conduct never gave him any reason to think I would sink so low." "My dear chap," said Conniston, with the air of a Socrates, "when anyone has his monkey up, he will believe anything." "Conniston is quite right," said the lawyer, "though he expresses himself with his usual elegance. Sir Simon, with Beryl at his elbow, is inclined to believe the worst of you, Bernard, and probably thinks you have deteriorated sufficiently to permit your making use of even so humble an instrument as a housemaid." "Bah!" said Gore, in a rage. "What right has he to--" "Don't be so furious, my dear man. I am advising you for your own good, and not charging seven-and-six either." This made Bernard laugh. "But it does make a fellow furious to hear his nearest--I won't say dearest--think so badly of one."