"Don't you know me, Gilbert?" I asked.
He started at the sound of my voice, and took a quick step towards me. I held out my hand.
"God in Heaven, it's Hardross!" he exclaimed.
I laughed as our hands met.
"I shall not bother about my disguise any longer," I remarked. "It is evidently better even than I had hoped."
He wrung my hand. I was delighted to see that there was nothing in his face but joy.
"Old chap!" he exclaimed, "I'm delighted. I can't say more. You've knocked me all of a heap. For Heaven's sake talk! I should like to be quite sure that I'm awake."
"You're awake all right," I answered, "as sure as I'm alive! How well you look in black, old man! I suppose it's for me?"
He nodded.
"How on earth," he exclaimed, "could the papers have made such a mistake?"