"What else are you? Lord Derrington engaged you as his agent to watch me, and that you have done."
"Not lately. I have given you a free hand."
"In any case I have a free hand," said George, loftily. "You were grateful enough for my service in saving your life to release me from your espionage, but had you not done so I should have taken means to put a stop to your dogging my footsteps."
"You would not have known had I not told you, Mr. Brendon."
"Oh, yes, I should. In any case, I should have seen my grandfather, and he would have told me."
"No, sir. He is your enemy."
"That is where you are wrong, Bawdsey. He is my friend."
The detective looked astonished. "Do you mean to say that Lord Derrington has climbed down?" he demanded incredulously.
"It is strange, is it not," said George, in a bantering tone, "but, as a matter of fact, after a long conversation, Lord Derrington and myself came to understand one another. He intends to recognize me as his heir."
"Has he then learnt where the marriage took place?" asked Bawdsey, starting from his seat, and again glancing anxiously at the newspaper which lay on a small table at his elbow.