"Zat ees heem. He run off wiz ze children—it ees big snow—he miss ze way——"
"Yes, I know."
"Ha! So! Who are you, I vant know?"
"I'm the man ez found them twins when this 'ere Camont war chewed up. Now then, out with it, what's the name o' them youngsters, speak up, or sumthin' a-goin' to happen to ye putty quick!"
As Barringford spoke he caught the Frenchman by the arm. The clutch made Benoit Vascal shiver.
"Stop, I beg! I vill tell! Ze children, dare name ees Hamilton."
"Hamilton?"
"Yees. Fadder, hees name is Maurice Hamilton. He ees an Englishman. I not know vere he ees now."
Having confessed so much, Benoit Vascal told the remainder of his story to suit himself. He insisted upon it that Paul Camont and not he had taken the twins. He said both he and Camont had had trouble with Maurice Hamilton over some American lands. He did not think that Hamilton was in America. He had been over, but had returned to London nearly a year ago.
"Well, thet settles one thing," said Barringford, when he rejoined his friends. "Them twins is named Hamilton, an' their father's fust name is Maurice. Ef he's in London, all we can do is to write to him."