oun expected. His bow to Dino was a little
stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.

"You come from Mrs. Luttrell?" he asked, in surprise.

Hugo's pallid lips, and look of agitation, convinced him that some
disaster was impending. But Dino answered with great composure.

"I come to bring you news which I think ought not to be kept from you
for a moment longer than is necessary," he said.

"Pray take a glass of wine, Mr.--er--Mr.----" The lawyer did not quite
know how to address his visitor. "Won't you sit down, Hugo?"

"I have not come to stay," said Dino. "I am going to the hotel for the
night. I wished only to speak to you at once." He put one hand on the
table by which he was standing and glanced at Mr. Brett. For the first
time he showed some embarrassment. "I hope it will not inconvenience
you," he said, "if I tell you that I have withdrawn my claim."

Dead silence fell on the assembly. Mr. Brett pushed back his chair a
little way and stared. Mr. Colquhoun shook his head and smiled.

"I find," continued Dino, "that Mrs. Luttrell and I have entirely
different views as to the disposition of the property and the life that
I ought to lead. I cannot give up my plans--even for her. The easiest
way to set things straight is to let the estate remain in Miss Murray's
hands."

"You can't!" said Mr. Colquhoun, abruptly. "Brian Luttrell is alive!"

"Then let it go to Brian Luttrell."

"My dear sir," said Mr. Brett, "you have offered us complete documentary
evidence that the gentleman now on his way to America is not Brian
Luttrell at all."

"Yes, but there is only documentary evidence," said Dino. "The deaths of
Vincenza Vasari and Rosa Naldi in a railway accident deprived us of
anything else."

"Where are those papers?" asked Mr. Brett, sharply. "I hope they are
safe."

"Quite safe, Mr. Brett. I have burnt them all." The shock of this
communication was too much, even for the case-hardened Mr. Brett. He
turned positively pale.

"Burnt them! Burnt them!" he ejaculated. "Oh, the man is mad. Burnt the
proofs of his position and birth----"

"I have done all that I wanted to do," said Dino, colouring as the three
pairs of eyes were fastened upon him with different expressions of
disbelief, surprise, and even scorn. "My mother knows that I am her son:
that is all I cared for. That is what I came for, not for the estate."

"But, my dear, young friend," said Mr. Colquhoun, with unusual
gentleness, "don'