Carless,
Mr. Pawle, Mr. Perkwite, Lord Ellingham and Viner, and behind a locked
door these men looked at each other and at this centre of interest with
the air of those to whom something extraordinary has just been told.
After a moment of silence Mr. Carless spoke, addressing the man whose
story had brought matters to an undeniable crisis.
"I am sure," he said gravely, and with a side glance at Lord Ellingham,
"that if your story is true, sir,--and after what we have just heard, I
am beginning to think that my first conclusions may have been wrong
ones,--no one will welcome your reappearance more warmly than the young
gentleman whom you will turn out of title and property! But you must see
for yourself that your claims must be thoroughly investigated--and as
what you have now just told affects other people, and we must invite you
to full discussion, I propose that, for the time being, we address you as
Mr. Cave."
The claimant smiled, and nodded genially to the young man whose uncle he
alleged himself to be.
"I wish to remain Mr. Cave," he said. "I don't want to turn my nephew out
of title and property, so long as he will do something for his old uncle.
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