"
"That's all stuff! If she is afraid to come herself, she knows it's an
abominable falsehood. Bring her here with whatever evidence she has got
that this Walter Clifford is my son, and then we will go into this matter
seriously."
Monckton was equal to the occasion.
"You are quite right, sir," said he. "And what business has she to put me
forward as evidence of a transaction I never witnessed? I shall tell her
you expect to see her, and that it is her duty to clear up the affair in
person. Suppose it should be another Mr. Walter Clifford, after all? When
shall I bring her, supposing I have sufficient influence?"
"Bring her to-morrow, as early as you can."
"Well, you know ladies are not early risers: will twelve o'clock do?"
"Twelve o'clock to-morrow, sir," said the Colonel.
The sham parson took his leave, and drove away in a well-appointed
carriage and pair. For we must inform the reader that he had written to
Mr. Middleton for another L100, not much expecting to get it, and that it
had come down by return of post in a draft on a bank in Derby.
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