"Have you seen him since his return?"
"Frequently in London, but he is now, I believe, at Marshminster."
"Do you know he is engaged to Miss Bellin?"
"Of course I do," said Briarfield; "the marriage takes place shortly, and I am to be the best man--that is, if I return in time."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm going to Italy tomorrow," said the young man, shrugging his shoulders, "and it is just--possible that I may prolong my tour to the East. In that case I may be absent from England for at least six months or more. During that time Francis will doubtless marry Olivia, and I shall not be able to be at the wedding."
"You have not been to England within the last six weeks, you don't know the Fen Inn, nor of the existence of Rose Strent," I summed up; "then I am the victim of some extraordinary hallucination."
"You are very extraordinary altogether," retorted Briarfield. "Now I have answered your questions, pray answer mine. Why do you ask all these things?"
"It is a strange story, and one which you will scarcely believe." "Let me hear it."
Thus adjured, I told him the story of my adventure at the inn, but suppressed all mention of the belief I then entertained that the brothers had changed names. He listened attentively and eyed me with some concern. At the conclusion of the narrative he considered for a few moments before making any reply.