"Gad," went on Gilbert, "that'll make a man of you—eh?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand a word of what you are saying, sir!"
"You don't understand a word! Why, of course you don't! I like you for it—and I'll be frank, I thought I never could like you. Somehow," he went on, looking into Manton's face, "you are the same and yet different, but I'd know you anywhere, despite this shabby old suit and your battered bowler. You knew me, too, when you came into the office."
Manton, still bewildered beyond measure, shook his head slowly.
"I have never seen you in my life before, sir!"
"No, of course not," laughed Gilbert, who was jovial and good-natured. He slipped his arm through Manton's. "Come along now, and we'll talk about it!" Something in the situation of the moment seemed to exhilarate him. "So you've decided to make good after all? Well, all I can say is—I'm delighted. For your own sake, for the old Colonel's sake, for everybody's sake!"
Again he paused and looked into his companion's face.
"I'll admit, Treves, I didn't think you had it in you. I thought——"
Manton freed his arm from the other's grasp.
"I am sorry, sir," he said, "but you are evidently making a grievous mistake. My name is Manton——"