"There is a gentleman well known, who has lived here with his daughter since—I don't know how long!"
"Give me his name."
"His name?" I said. "His name is——" I could not recall the name!—it had had no interest for me. I could remember saying, hypocritically, "I shall bear your name in mind "; but what it was I had no idea. I stood dazed. "His name——It escapes me for the moment."
"Enough. The pretence is idle."
"Morbleu!" thundered Beauregard. "Think, Panage, think!"
"I am trying; but I paid no heed to it."
Heavens! what a revenge for the mummer—the name that had fallen on careless ears was now my only chance of rescue. I thrashed my brains for it, sweating with funk.
"The name——It evades me because I have met him only once in my life."
"Or not so often! I am not to be duped."
"Let me think; don't speak for a minute."