“I do not understand your excessive emotion, sir. I do not understand your desire to avoid explaining your very strange words and manner,” Geoffrey interposed, looking both pained and anxious; “but I am terribly in earnest about this matter, and if you know anything about my family or antecedents, I beg that you will not keep me in suspense.”
“Some other time I will talk with you again,” murmured the stranger, turning aside, and striving to keep his eyes averted.
“When? name any place and hour, and I will come to you,” said Geoffrey, eagerly.
The man thought a moment, then said:
“Come to me at five o’clock this afternoon, at the ‘United States,’ and inquire for room forty-five.”
He turned abruptly away, and would have passed on, but Geoffrey detained him.
“What is your name, please?” he asked.
“That you shall know when we meet again,” was the evasive reply.
“Tell me one thing,” pleaded the young man, greatly agitated; “did this—friend of yours, have a son bearing the name that I have given you?”
A groan of pain escaped the man.