"All I have to say is
this. I met Mrs. Lorimer on the platform of Euston Station on the
evening of her acquittal, and I mistook her for my niece who was
travelling in the same train."
Meldon put his watch into his pocket and stared at the judge.
"It was quite an excusable mistake," said Sir Gilbert soothingly. "Any
one might have made it. The likeness is extraordinary."
"The thing to do now," said Meldon after a long pause, "is to get
Simpkins out of this as quickly as possible. He's no use here."
"None," said the judge. "Why did you bring him?"
"I brought him to marry your niece," said Meldon. "I told you that
before."
"Marry!-- Oh yes, while you thought she was-- Do you dislike Simpkins
very much?"
"No; I don't. But everybody else, including the Major, does."
"I'm beginning to understand things a little," said the judge, "and I
agree with you that the first thing to be done is to remove Simpkins.
We shall have a good deal to talk over, and his presence--"
"When you speak of talking things over," said Meldon, "I hope you've no
intention of alluding to Mrs. Lorimer in your niece's company. After
all, we ought to recollect that we're gentlemen.
Pages:
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376