"So he claims," returned Mrs. Ruthven.
"My dear, dear son, I trust you do not disbelieve me," said the doctor, in an apparently hurt tone of voice.
"I—I don't know what to say," faltered Jack. "This is so strange—so unexpected. Why didn't you come here before?"
"I have just been telling Mrs. Ruthven my story," and the surgeon repeated what he had said, with several added details. As the man went on our hero's face grew very pale, and he moved slowly towards Mrs. Ruthven and clutched her by the shoulder.
"Mother, I don't want to leave you!" he whispered hoarsely. "I don't like this man, even if he is my father!"
"I do not want you to leave me, Jack," she answered, embracing him in spite of the fact that he was dripping wet. "But if this man is really your father——"
"Make him prove it!"
"You will not take his word?"
"No! no! I do not like his looks. He is the man who met me on the bridge and treated me like a slave."
Marion had listened to the conversation with a look of horror slowly rising on her face. Now she rushed toward Jack.