“I read the notice. It seemed to me at first that Potts was still trying to get control of us, but a moment’s reflection showed that to be improbable. Then the mention of ‘the friends of the family’ made me think of Langhetti. I concluded that he had escaped death and was trying to find me out.
“I went to Toronto, and found that you had gone to New York. I had saved much of my wages, and was able to come here. I expected Langhetti, but found you.”
“Why did you not think that it might be me?”
“Because I heard a threat of Potts about you, and took it for granted that he would succeed in carrying it out.”
“What was the threat?”
“He found out somehow that my father had written a letter to you. I suppose they told him so at the village post-office. One day when he was in the room he said, with a laugh, alluding to the letter, ‘I’ll uncork that young Brandy-flask before long.’”
“Well—the notice of my death appeared in the English papers.”
Frank looked earnestly at him.
“And I accept it, and go under an assumed name.”
“So do I. It is better.”