“How do you know, then, that this name is assumed?”
“Because I happen to know the Dudleigh family, and this man does not belong to it. I never saw him before.”
“There are more Dudleighs in the world than the family you speak of.”
“He is an adventurer,” said Wiggins. “You know nothing about him. I believe his name is false, as he himself is false. Does he not pretend to be the son of Sir Lionel?”
“No; he says that he is only a distant relation to Sir Lionel.”
“He is no relation whatever,” said Wiggins. “You are allowing yourself to be led astray by a man of whom you know nothing—a designing villain, an adventurer.”
“It is strange that you should apply such terms to a man of whom you yourself acknowledge that you know nothing. But, at any rate,” continued Edith, with strong emphasis, “he knows you. It is this knowledge that gives him the power of passing through those gates which you shut against me; what that knowledge may be you yourself know best.”
“He does not know me,” said Wiggins.
“He must,” said Edith, “for the simple reason that you dare not keep him out.”
Wiggins looked at her in silence for some time.