I kept silence.
‘How can you suppose,’ the old man went on, ‘that Mr Cumbermede would invent such a story? What object could he have?’
‘He may have a mania for weapons, like old Close—as well as for old books,’ he replied.
I thought of my precious folio. But I did not yet know how much additional force his insinuation with regard to the motive of my labours in the library would gain if it should be discovered that such a volume was in my possession.
‘You may have remarked, sir,’ he went on, ‘that I did not read the name of the owner of the sword in any place where it occurred in the manuscript.’
‘I did. And I beg to know why you kept it back,’ answered Sir Giles.
‘What do you think the name might be, sir?’
‘How should I know? I am not an antiquarian.’
‘Sir Wilfrid Cumbermede. You will find the initials on the blade.—Does that throw any light on the matter, do you think, sir?’
‘Why, that is your very own name!’ cried Sir Giles, turning to me.