“A properly-attested certificate of your birth would be all-sufficient,” said Mr. Screw, who began to feel relieved by the conduct of the Doctor.  The latter, however, suddenly stood still with the match in his fingers, and looked at the lawyer with a curious scrutiny.

“I would prefer,” he said, “to give some other evidence of my identity than that, if it is the same to you.”

“If you prefer it, of course,” said the lawyer coldly.  His suspicions were immediately roused, for he had named the simplest description of document he could think of, and it seemed odd that the Doctor should be so evidently disinclined to produce it.

“I suppose,” said the Doctor, “that the formal attestation of my identity by the authorities of the University of Heidelberg would be sufficient?”

“Yes, I should think so,” said Screw cautiously.  “But will it not take some time to procure that?”

“Well?  If it does, what then?”

“Only that—­you will understand that until this matter is settled I should not feel justified in authorising you to draw upon the estate.”

Claudius’s sense of logic was offended.

“My dear sir,” he replied, “have I drawn upon the estate for a single dollar yet?”

“No, sir, I am bound to say you have not, although you might have considered it natural to do so, and we should have put no obstacle—­” Mr. Screw stopped short.  He had betrayed himself, and felt extremely embarrassed.  But he said enough to give Claudius an idea of the situation.  Something had occurred, some one had spoken, to cast a doubt on his identity; and Mr. Screw was the chosen emissary of that “some one.”

“Then, Mr. Screw,” said the Doctor in measured tones, “I would admonish you to be more careful how you insinuate that I might do anything of the kind.  You have inconvenienced me quite enough already.  You had better not inconvenience me any more.  I consider your conduct a piece of unparalleled clumsiness, and your language little short of impertinent.  What you have said now you should have said in the letter which announced my uncle’s death.  Or you should have instructed Mr. Barker, who was abroad at the time and found me in Heidelberg, to make the necessary investigations.  The evidence shall be forthcoming in proper season, and until then I do not desire the advantage of your company.”

Mr. Screw was so much astonished with this mode of address from a man whom he had foolishly imagined to be good-natured that he stood a moment by the table hesitating what he should say.  Claudius took up a book and began to read.

“Well,” said he, perceiving that Mr. Screw was still in the room, “why don’t you go?”

“Really, Dr. Claudius, I am not accustomed—­” he began.

“Go,” said Claudius, interrupting him; “it is not of the smallest interest to me to know what you are accustomed to.  There is the door.”

“Sir—­”