'A what?'
'A monk. For the past five years I've been living the life of a religious.'
'You don't say! It sounds funny.'
'Therefore you will easily perceive that I am scarcely prepared to take upon myself all at once the responsibilities of the position which--you have arranged for me.'
'Get on. You do move slow.'
'Merrett, I want you to stand by me, and help me through the troubles I see ahead.'
'What do you mean by standing by--and what's your idea of helping?'
'Can't you, with your fertile brain, see some means of rendering me assistance without--compromising either of us?'
Again Mr. Merrett whistled.
'Your head isn't so much on the slant as some might perhaps be thinking. Together we'll be a match for a world in arms. You see, it's this way. There are persons who are foolish enough to think that I'm myself. Between us we might manage to convince them that I'm not. You slip round to Twickenham House. Then sometime to-morrow I'll appear as the injured Merrett--red-hot with an indignant desire to know who has had the cheek and impudence, peer or no peer, to get himself mistaken for me. I shall see you; perceive, with amazement--kept within judicious bounds--how like you are to me. Then I shall understand how the mistake's arisen, and my indignation will tone down. We'll have a little talk together. I may be of assistance to you--in other ways. One never knows.'