“Exactly,” said Mr. Screw.  He knew perfectly well that Barker would not want Claudius to know the part he had played, in case all turned out to be right, though he did not know that Barker was deceiving him.  He supposed that Barker really had serious doubts about Claudius, and as there was no one else to vouch for the latter, he was very honestly frightened.  He reviewed the situation in his own mind, and he came to the conclusion that he had really been remiss in the performance of his duties as executor.  It had not seemed in the least probable that any deception could be practised, and yet, when all was said, there was only the Heidelberg notary’s attestation of the signature to support the claimant of Mr. Lindstrand’s fortune.  This reflection comforted Mr. Screw a little.  At all events, he would be perfectly justified in calling on Claudius and stating his difficulty, requesting him to give what assistance was in his power towards a speedy identification of himself.  In the meantime he set himself to cross-examine Mr. Barker, endeavouring to extract all the information he could.  But extracting information from Mr. Barker was no easy task, as he very soon found, and as the hands of the clock pointed to one, he rose slowly, as by stages, from the depths of his arm-chair, and made up his mind that Barker did not know very much about the matter, though he knew more than any one else, and that the only thing to be done was to go straight to Claudius and state the case.  No honest man ever had much difficulty in proving who he was, thought Mr. Screw, and if he is an impostor, he will very likely not show fight at all, but make off to parts unknown, where he can very easily be caught.

Barker rose from his seat too, and took leave of the lawyer, well pleased with the result of his evening’s work.  It was very satisfactory.  He had produced exactly the impression on Mr. Screw’s mind which he had intended to produce; and having set that engine of the law in motion, he knew that he could fold his hands and proceed to enjoy himself after his manner.  He knew that everything would be done which could contribute to annoy and mortify Claudius, and that it would be done in such a way, with such paraphernalia of legal courtesy and mercantile formality, that the unhappy Doctor could not complain.  Barker had shrewdly calculated the difficulties Claudius would have to surmount in identifying himself in a strange country, without friends, and against the prejudices of Mr. Screw, his uncle’s executor.  Moreover, if, after countless efforts and endless trouble, Claudius succeeded, as he probably would, in obtaining his fortune, Barker would be no worse off than before.  He would have done nothing assailable, and he would have gained all the advantages of the time Claudius lost, not to mention the cloud of suspicion which must inevitably rest on the Doctor, until he should succeed in clearing himself before the world.  With skill, courage, and money, there was no telling what progress Barker might make in his suit for the Countess, before Claudius was himself again.  With such an advantage, if he could not outdo the Swede, he did not deserve to.