"My dear mother," said Claude, kissing her, "you must be prepared for unexpected news. I beg of you to control yourself for——"
He stopped short in astonishment. Mrs. Bezel was looking at Captain Larcher with a bewildered air, and he gazed at her face with an expression of amazement. She shrank back as he crossed the room with rapidity, and bent over her.
"Mona Bantry!" he cried, "is it possible that you still live?"
CHAPTER XLI.
AN EXPLANATION.
On hearing his father's exclamation Claude turned round with a look of supreme astonishment. He could not understand the meaning of that sudden exclamation.
"Father, you do not understand. This is your wife—my mother."
"Is it, indeed?" sneered Captain Larcher, who had recovered from his momentary emotion. "Nothing of the sort, sir. This woman is Mona Bantry, who was my wife's maid."