Gayer came into the room with an air.
'Mr. Foster has arrived, my lord.'
'Show him in here.'
There appeared the pertinacious old buffer who'd tried to worry me into signing a will. It didn't require more than half an eye to see he was all of a tremble.
'Hollo, Foster! I hear that you recently assisted at my decease.'
'I--I 'He came two or three steps more forward so that he could inspect me at closer quarters. 'It is the Marquis of Twickenham! But--I don't understand.'
'Nor I. I've come back to make a little stay, and I'm received as if I were a ghost.'
'The truth is, we have been made the victims of a most audacious fraud. Your lordship has returned at a most opportune moment. I was just about to hand over the conduct of affairs to Lord Reginald.'
'The deuce you were.'
'It's--it's a most incomprehensible business altogether.' He took out his handkerchief to wipe his brow; agitation actually made him perspire. 'I have advanced Lord Reginald a considerable sum of money.'