"I may advertise the whole history, and offer a reward for the discovery of the identification of the woman."
"But nobody can identify Lady Woodroffe."
"My old doctor——"
"Your old doctor would break down. Lady Woodroffe has only to deny absolutely that she is the woman. Counsel can always suggest—man in India—another woman—assumption of name—real wife with her father, Lord Dunedin—letters to prove it—old nobleman swears it. Venerable old nobleman—ever seen him?—rather like Abraham."
"Well, we shall find some way of forcing the history upon the public. And a certain event has just happened which may give me an opportunity."
"What is that?"
"My father is dead. He died yesterday. He was also Humphrey's father."
"Oh, I am sorry."
"No one need express any sorrow on that account. As he left my mother when I was a baby, I have never seen him. I did not know that he was in England. It appears that he has been a sandwich-man for some time. And he died in a pauper infirmary. As for myself, I feel neither shame nor grief; he was to me, as to you, a stranger. But perhaps I can use the event in order to give publicity to our story, if we must court publicity."