"That is news to me," said Mr. Manners, "and is not in accordance with the information I have received."
"Have you been playing the spy upon me?" asked Kingsley, with some warmth.
"I should require to be in two places at once to have done that. This time last week I was in Russia."
"Then you have been paying some one to watch me. By what right, father?"
"You jump too hastily at conclusions. You make a statement which is not true, and you proceed to question me upon it."
"I beg your pardon; but you must have obtained your information from some source."
"Quite so."
"Will you tell me from whom?
"I may or I may not before we part to-night. You refused to give me a promise; I refuse to give you one. I might well take offence at the imputation that I have paid a spy to watch you."
"I withdrew the imputation, father."