“Pretender!” echoed Mrs Hampton.
“Yes. I must call him so, my dear. The pretender must make good his claim.”
“Then we can do nothing till Mr George Harrington Number one comes back?”
“Nothing.”
“And you have a latent feeling that we shall not see him again?”
“A feeling that the telegram has strengthened. It seems to me that if—mind, I say if—he is an impostor, he may have had a hint that the genuine George Harrington was, after all, alive and coming back. He had foresight enough to possess himself of a large sum of money, and with this he has escaped. Good Heavens! There it is again.”
Dr Lawrence had started from his seat, as once more a long, low howl seemed to come from close at hand.
“It is only Bruno,” said Gertrude. “Poor fellow! he must have made his way out of the stable. Don’t stir, I’ll send him back.”
She ran out of the room, to find Denton coming to meet her.
“Bruno, my dear. He has managed to get over into the house.”