“I can claim that at any moment,” the man replied.  “I have had my reasons for waiting.  It’s partly those reasons that have brought me here.  For one thing, Mr. Douglas Romilly was supposed to be able to put his hand on a matter of a hundred thousand dollars somewhere in New York.  You haven’t shown many signs up till now, Mr. Ware, of having any such sum in your possession.”

“I see,” Philip assented.  “You wanted the money as well.”

“The creditors of the Douglas Romilly Shoe Company are wanting it pretty badly,” the man proceeded, “but that wasn’t all.  I wanted to find out what your game was.  That I don’t know, even now.  That is why I have come to you.  Have I the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Douglas Romilly?”

“I really don’t see,” Philip protested thoughtfully, “why I should go into partnership with you in this affair.  You see, in the long run, our interests might not be altogether identical.”

Mr. Dane smiled grimly.

“That’s a fairly shrewd calculation, Mr. Ware,” he admitted.  “You ain’t bound to answer any question you don’t want to.  This is just a friendly chat and no more.”

“Besides,” Philip continued, lighting another cigarette, “I think I understood you to say that you had already arrived at the conclusion that I was Douglas Romilly?”

“Not precisely that,” the detective replied.  “All that I discovered was that you were the man who registered at the Waldorf Hotel as Mr. Douglas Romilly.”

“Well, the only name I choose to acknowledge at present is the name of Merton Ware,” Philip declared.  “If you think there is any mystery about me, any connection with the gentleman whom I believe you call Mr. Douglas Romilly, well, the matter is one for your investigation.  You will forgive me if I remind you that my guests will be here in a matter of a few minutes, and permit me to ask you one more question.  Why do you come here to me in this very unofficial manner?  If I am really an impostor, you are giving me every opportunity of clearing out.”

Mr. Edward Dane shook his head.  He was fingering the brim of his hat.

“Oh, no, Mr. Ware!” he declared smoothly.  “Our detective system may have some faults, but when a man’s name is put on the list where yours figures, he has not one chance in a million of leaving the country or of gaining any place of hiding.  I shall know where you lunch to-morrow and with whom you dine, and with whom you spend your time.  The law, sir, will keep its eye upon you.”

“Really, that seems very friendly,” Philip said coolly.  “Shall I have the privilege of your personal surveillance?”

“I think not, Mr. Ware.  To tell you the truth, this is rather a p.p.c. visit.  I’ve booked my passage on the Elletania, sailing to-morrow from New York.  I am taking a trip over to England to make a few enquiries round about the spot where this Mr. Douglas Romilly hails from—­Detton Magna, isn’t it?”