"Not very. Had the gentleman you met in Paris another tacked to it?"
"Oh, yes," said Mr. Majoribanks. "Whittingham."
"Whittingham!" exclaimed Basil, greatly startled.
"Basil Whittingham--that is the gentleman's full name; and, by the way, I was told, I remember, that he had been in Australia, gold-digging. It is a curious story--but you seem excited."
"With good cause," said Basil. "My name is Basil Whittingham."
"You don't say so?"
"It is a fact."
"Well, that makes it all the stranger." Basil rose and paced the verandah in uncontrollable excitement. The full significance of this extraordinary revelation did not immediately dawn upon him, and at present he did not connect Newman Chaytor with it. Out of the chaos of thought which stirred his mind he evoked nothing intelligible. Mr. Majoribanks' eyes followed him as he paced to and fro, and fixed themselves frankly upon him when he paused and faced him.
"Were you aware that my name is Whittingham?" asked Basil.
"Upon my honour, no," replied Mr. Majoribanks.