"There is some mystery here," said Basil, mastering his excitement, "which it seems imperative should be solved. As you remarked, Basil is not a common name; neither is Whittingham; and that the two should be associated in the person of a man who bears so wonderful a resemblance to me that you would have taken us to be twin brothers, makes it all the more mysterious and inexplicable. You are not joking with me?"
"As I am a gentleman, I have told you nothing but the truth. There are such things as coincidences, you know."
"Yes; but if this is one, it is the strangest I have ever heard of."
"It has all the appearance of it," said Mr. Majoribanks, thoughtfully. "Within my knowledge there are only two men bearing the name of Whittingham--one, myself, the other an uncle in England, with whom, unfortunately, I had some differences of opinion."
"Ah," said Mr. Majoribanks, "the coincidences continue. The gentleman I refer to had an uncle of the name of Whittingham with whom he also had some differences of opinion."
"Had an uncle?"
"Who is dead," said Mr. Majoribanks.
"My uncle was a gentleman of fortune."
"So was his."
"I was to have been his heir. I displeased him and he disinherited me. That was really the reason why I left England for Australia."