He
escaped from the asylum where I am at present assistant doctor, after all
but murdering me; he has been seen in London since, but how he came to
impersonate the unfortunate gentleman whom you locked up this afternoon I
cannot say."

Before they broke up for the night the genuine Baron, released from
confinement and soothed by the humblest apologies and a heavy supper,
recounted the main events in Mr Beveridge _alias_ Bunker's brief career in
town. On his exploits in St Egbert's he felt some delicacy in touching,
but at the end of what was after all only a fragmentary and one-sided
narrative, even the defrauded Trelawney could not but admit that, whatever
the departed gentleman's failings, his talents at least were worthy of a
better cause.

CHAPTER VII.

The party at Brierley Park had gone at last to bed. The Baron was
installed in his late usurper's room, and from the clock-tower the hour of
three had just been tolled. Sympathy and Sir Richard's cellar had greatly
mollified the Baron's wrath; he had almost begun to see the humorous side
of his late experience; as a rival Mr Bunker was extinct, and with an easy
mind and a placid smile he had fallen asleep some two hours past.

The fire burned low, and for long nothing but the occasional sigh of the
wind in the trees disturbed the silence. At length, had the Baron been
awake, he might have heard the stealthiest of footsteps in the corridor
outside. Then they stopped; his door was gently opened, and first a head
and then a whole man slipped in.

Still the Baron slept, dreaming peacefully of his late companion. They
were driving somewhere in a hansom, Mr Bunker was telling one of his most
amusing stories, when there came a shock, the hansom seemed to turn a
somersault, and the Baron awoke. At first he thought he must be dreaming
still; the electric light had been turned on and the room was bright as
day, but, more bewildering yet, Mr Bunker was seated on his bed, gazing at
him with an expression of thoughtful amusement.

"Well, Baron," he said, "I trust you are comfortable in these excellent
quarters."

The Baron, half awake and wholly astonished, was unable to collect his
ideas in time to make any reply.

"But remember," continued Mr Bunker, "you have a reputation to live up to.
I have set the standard high for Bavarian barons."

The indignant Baron at last recovered his wits.

"If you do not go away _at vonce_," he s