Towton felt an astonishment which he could scarcely conceal, and wondered if Diabella had spoken in this way to Ida. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that this girl is not the daughter of Martin Dimsdale."
"What!" Towton rose in his surprise; "How dare you say that?"
"I am only reading what I see," said Diabella wearily. "Your fortune and this girl's is connected, therefore I know of her past."
"Past! Past!" fumed the Colonel, sitting down again. "She has no past in the sense you mean. She was born in Burmah, and her mother died shortly afterwards. Dimsdale sent her home to relatives, and afterwards she went to school at Hampstead. Five years ago he returned to settle in England and she has been with him ever since."
"Quite true; but you are foolish to tell me so much, as now you will say that I merely echo what you have mentioned."
"I have certainly not mentioned that she is not Dimsdale's daughter."
"No. Yet it is true. Her name is Ida Menteith, and her father was a major in a native regiment. Menteith was with his wife in Burmah at a hill station called--called--wait until I get the name." Diabella stopped for one moment, then spoke out triumphantly, "It was called Goorkah Station, and was besieged by the Dacoits?"
"Yes. I remember the station, but not a man called Menteith."
"This happened before you went to India."