The Reverend Mr. Withers expressed his pleasure in a hollow, sepulchral tone at meeting the gentlemen.
Carlos replied rather stiffly.
Mr. Werner contemplated the proceedings curiously, yet courteously.
Mr. Duncan seemed struggling to suppress an exhibition of merriment. In this he was not successful, for he soon burst into a fit of hearty laughter.
Then it was that the Reverend Mr. Withers went through with a most surprising performance. He seized Carlos by both shoulders, shook him violently, and exclaimed:
“Don’t you know me, old boy?”
Carlos sprang back in amazement, and gazed at the speaker as if he would look him through and through.
“Know you?” he faltered. “Your voice seems familiar.”
“Does it? I should think so. I’ll let you hear it again. Now do you know me?”
A look of intelligence and gladness gradually crept over the face of Carlos. He could not be mistaken; he was not. It was his cousin, Leonard Lester.