also Mr. Richard Poole.

Then, after hearing her answer, he asked for pen and paper and wrote a
few lines--

"As Miss Irma Maitland urgently desires that her brother and she
should remain under the care of Mr. William Lyon and his wife at
Heathknowes, and as the aforesaid William and Mary Lyon are able and
willing to provide for their maintenance, we see no reason why the
arrangement should not be an excellent and suitable one, at least
until such time as Sir Louis must be sent to school, when the whole
question will again come up. And this to hold good whatever may be
the outcome of this interview with the person calling himself
Wringham Pollixfen Poole,

"For Smart, Poole and Smart,
"R. Poole."

He handed the paper across to my grandmother, in whom he easily
recognized the ruling spirit of the household.

"There, madam," he said, "that will put matters on a right basis with my
firm whatever may happen to me. And now, if you please, I should like to
see my double at once. I suspect a kinsman, but do not be afraid of a
vendetta. If Master Robin, of whose prowess I have already heard, has
crushed in a rib or two, so much the better. Even if he had broken my
worthy relative's back, I fear me few would have worn mourning!"

They found the three young men still in the room, and my grandmother did
no more than assure herself of the presence of the still white-wrapped
figure on the shakedown in the corner, before leading Mr. Richard into
the parlour.

He went out from us with a jovial nod to my father, a low bow to Miss
Irma, and mock salutation to little Sir Louis, his head high in the air,
his riding whip swinging by its loop from his arm, and as it seemed, a
vigour of blood sufficient for a dozen ordinary people circulating in
his veins.

"Thank you, gentlemen," he said to my uncles, as soon as he had looked
at the bed and lifted the kerchief which Mary Lyon had laid wet upon the
brow. "I recognize, as I had reason to expect, a scion of my house,
however unworthy, with whom it will be necessary for me to communicate
privately. But if you will retire to the kitchen, I shall easily signal
you should your services become again necessary."

He stood with the edge of the door in his hand, and with a slight bow
ushered each of my uncles out. I was there, too, of course, seeing what
was to be seen. His e