“And so you hope to make Miss Randall Lady Donaster?” Grimsby at length questioned.

“That is my intention.  Why do you ask?”

“But what if you never will be Lord Donaster?  What then?”

“Why, what do you mean?  I shall inherit the title as soon as my father dies.”

“But suppose you have no right to the title?”

Donaster gave a distinct start.  Then he laughed.

“H’m, you needn’t worry about that.  Just you wait.”

“But suppose you are not Lord Donaster’s son?” Grimsby’s question was very deliberate, but it had an immediate effect.

“Not his son!  What are you driving at, anyway?  Stop your nonsense.  If I am not Lord Donaster’s son, who am I, then?”

“You are an impostor, that’s what you are.  There is no Lord Donaster.  Your father is a shoemaker in the State of New Jersey.  I have proof, so you needn’t try to deny it.”

Donaster had now risen to his feet.  He was trembling violently, and his face was as white as death.

“For God’s sake!” he gasped, “how did you learn all this?  Who are you, anyway?”

“Never mind who I am,” and Grimsby smiled with satisfaction.  He was succeeding better than he had expected.  “You know what I say is true.”

“Does anybody else know this?” Donaster asked.  “Have you told anyone?”

“Not yet.”

“Not yet!  Then you intend to do so, I suppose?”

“Why not?  Should not Mr. and Mrs. Randall know at once what a vil——­, excuse me, what an impostor you are?”

“Don’t, don’t tell them!  For the love of heaven, keep this a secret.  They must not know.  It will ruin me.”

“What am I to do, then?”

“Say nothing.  Keep silent.”

“Ah, now you are coming to the point.  That’s why I’m here.  Yes, I will keep silent, but what will you pay for my silence.  Let’s get down to business at once.”

“So you want money, eh?  How much?”

“That all depends, sir, upon how much you are able to pay.”

Donaster looked at Grimsby for a minute without replying.  He was angry, and he longed to kick this fellow out of the room.  But he knew he had to be cautious if he expected to secure the prize.  He must muzzle him somehow until then, otherwise he would spoil his chance completely.

“I am afraid I can pay you but little,” he at length confessed.  “I am rather hard up myself.”

“Oh, that’s all right, sir.  I’m not hard to please.  Let’s be partners and divvy up.  Give me half of what you have, and I’m at your command.  Then, when you get the girl—­and the money—­you can give me some more.”  Grimsby’s eyes twinkled as he made this suggestion, and he watched to see the effect upon Donaster.

“And you promise that you’ll not squeal on me if I do this?”

“Sure.  I’ll do almost anything for money—­like yourself, eh?”

“Do you think you can find the girl?”