Fortunately, the squire did not observe that his reference to Mr Falcon fell like a bomb-shell among his guests, who controlled, as far as possible, any outward indication of their feelings, though they knew who was meant by the squire in his last utterance, and as the aeronaut had been looking at Falcon’s photo on the wall, he was not in reality so much taken by surprise as were Miss Chain and Captain Link.
“These gentlemen may possibly have met Mr Falcon, Edith,” said the squire.
“May I ask if that is his portrait?” asked the aeronaut of Miss Dove, pointing to the photo on the wall.
“Yes! you have been studying the face, haven’t you?”
“I know the face, but I am not very familiar with the name,” replied the aeronaut.
“I should think, Edith, that this gentleman,” turning to the mariner, “is the more likely to know Mr Falcon,” said her father.
“I certainly know a Mr Falcon,” replied the captain, “and I’ll have a look at his likeness presently.”
“And the young lady,” said Miss Dove, “is she at all acquainted with him?”
“I have seen the shadow of a Mr Falcon, but the person I have such vivid recollections of was named, I think, Filcher Falcon, and may, or may not, be the same man,” replied Miss Chain.
“Did you mind the name Filcher, Edith?” asked the squire. “We may, after all,” he continued, “be alluding to two distinct persons.”