“As one of the executors of the late Mr. Gustavus Lindstrand, deceased,” proceeded Mr. Screw slowly, “I feel it my duty, as an honest man, to inform you that there are serious doubts as to whether the gentleman who calls himself Dr. Claudius is Dr. Claudius at all.  The person in question disappeared two months ago, and has not been heard of since, as far as I can make out.  I have no interest in the matter as far as it concerns yourself, as you may well imagine, but I have thought it right to warn you that the gentleman whom you have honoured with a promise of marriage has not established his claim to be the person he represents himself.”

Margaret, who, after the first words, had foreseen what Mr. Screw had come to say, and who believed that very respectable and honest man to be concerned in the plot against Claudius, was naturally angry, but she had the good sense to do the right thing.

“Mr. Screw,” she said in her commanding voice, icily, “I am deeply indebted to you for your interference.  Nevertheless, I am persuaded that the gentleman to whom I am engaged is very really and truly the person he represents himself to be.  A fact of which my friend here will probably be able to persuade you without difficulty.”  And she forthwith left the room.  The Duke turned upon the lawyer.

“Look here, Mr. Screw,” he said sharply, “I am the—­well, never mind my name, you can find out from the people downstairs.  I am an English gentleman, and I know who Dr. Claudius is.  I knew his father; I brought him to this country in my yacht.  I am prepared to go into court this minute and swear to the identity of the gentleman you are slandering.  Slandering, sir!  Do you hear me?” The ducal anger was hot.  “And except for the fact that Dr. Claudius will be here to speak for himself the day after to-morrow morning, I would take you into court now by main force and make you hear me swear to him.  Do you hear me, sir?”

“My dear sir,” began Mr. Screw, who was somewhat taken aback by this burst of wrath.

“Don’t call me ‘your dear sir,’” said the nobleman, moving towards Screw.

“Sir, then,” continued the other, who had not an idea to whom he was speaking, and perhaps would not have cared had he known, being such an honest man, “I cannot conceive why, if you are so certain, you have not come forward before, instead of allowing your friend to go to Europe in order to procure evidence he might have obtained here.”

“I am not going to argue with you,” said the Duke.  “Dr. Claudius would have gone to Europe in any case, if that is any satisfaction to you.  What did you come here for?”

“Because I thought it right to warn an unsuspecting lady of her danger,” answered Mr. Screw boldly.

“Is that true?  Do you really believe Claudius is not Claudius?” asked the Duke, coming close to the lawyer and looking him in the eyes.

“Certainly, I believe him to be an impostor,” said the other returning his gaze fearlessly.