"Why then did you conceal the purpose of your trip?" demanded his tormentor.
"My sister was much opposed to my seeking my son," said his Lordship, colouring furiously. "And—I—in short, I had reasons."
The journalist laughed.
"The story's clever," he said. "But I can tell a more interesting tale." And he proceeded to relate the adventures of Cecil in the person of "the Bishop," to which his Lordship listened with open-mouthed astonishment.
"There!" concluded his captor triumphantly. "Have you anything to say to that?"
"I have," chimed in Miss Arminster, and she gave the true version of the affair from the time Banborough had first engaged them at the Grand Central Station.
"It's a very plausible story," said Marchmont, when she had finished, "and does credit to your invention. But fortunately I'm in a condition to completely disprove it."
"Really?" she asked. "How so?"
"I can produce a witness of the whole transaction."
"Who?"