"If there be any imposture we are sure to find it out," they said.
Without a minute"s loss of time, Mrs. Trevelyan was asked to join us in the library. She complied at once.
"We want you to go with us to Lincoln to show us the child," said Sir John, abruptly.
She consented at once so readily that I felt certain that our quest was useless. We started in an hour"s time, my poor Clare being led to believe that we had gone to Harden on a visit.
We reached Lincoln about six o"clock at night. While we stood in the station waiting for a cab Mr. Paine turned suddenly to Coralie.
"What is the address?" he asked.
Again there was not a moment"s hesitation.
"No. 6 Lime Cottages, Berkdale Road," she replied; and fast as a somewhat tired horse could take us we went there.
We reached the place at last; a row of pretty cottages that in summer must have been sheltered by the lime trees, and the door of No. 6 was quickly opened to us--opened by a woman with a pleasant face, who looked exceedingly astonished at seeing us. Coralie came forward.
"I had no time to write and warn you of this visit, Mrs. Smith. Be kind enough to answer any questions these gentlemen may wish to ask you."
We all made way for Mr. Paine. I shall never forget the group, the anxiety and suspense on each face.
"Have you a child here in your charge?" asked the lawyer.
But she looked at Coralie.
"Am I to answer, madam?"
"You are to answer any questions put to you; my story is known."
"Have you a child here in your charge?" he repeated.
"I have," she repeated.
"Who is it? Tell us in your own words, if you please."
"He is the son of the late Mr. Miles Trevelyan and his wife, who was Mademoiselle d"Aubergne."
"Where were they married?" he asked.
"They were married at the Church of St. Helen"s, Edgerton. I was one witness; the other was Arthur Ireton, the head game-keeper."
"Where was this child born?" he asked again.
"Here, sir, at this house. Mrs. Trevelyan left home, it was believed, to visit some friends. She came here and took this house. I remained with her, and have had charge of little Master Rupert ever since."
He asked fifty other questions; they were answered with equal clearness and precision.
"Let us see the child," said Sir John, impatiently.
She went into the next room and brought out a lovely little boy. He was asleep, but at the sound of strange voices opened his eyes.
"Mamma!" he cried when he saw Coralie, and she took him in her arms.
Sir John looked earnestly at him.
"There is no mistake," he said; "we want no further evidence. I can tell by his face this is poor Miles" son."
He was a lovely, bright-eyed boy; he had Coralie"s golden-brown hair, which fell in thick ringlets down his pretty neck.
"But it is Miles" face," Sir John repeated, and we did not doubt him.
"There remains but one thing more to make the whole evidence complete.
We must see the registration of the birth of the child, and it would be better to see the doctor who attended you, madam."
We did both on the following day. The registration of the child"s birth was right, perfect and without a flaw.
The doctor, a highly respectable medical pract.i.tioner, offered us his evidence on oath.
There was nothing left, then, but to return to Crown Anstey and give up possession.
I loved the little boy. It was too absurd to feel any enmity against him. He was so bright and clever; it would have been unmanly not to have loved dead Miles" son.
Of Coralie Trevelyan I asked but one favor; that she would allow me one week in which to make some arrangement for Clare before she brought the young heir home. She cheerfully agreed to this.
"You bear your reverses very bravely," she said.
"Better than I bore prosperity," I replied, and that, G.o.d knows, was true.
This new trial had braced my nerves and made me stronger than I had ever been in my whole life before.
CHAPTER XIII.
The arrangement made for my sister was one I knew not how to be grateful enough for. Lady Thesiger insisted that she should go to Harden and remain there until she was well.
"She need know nothing of your misfortune yet. We have but to say that she must be kept quiet and admit no visitors except such as we can trust to say nothing to her. Agatha and myself will take the greatest care of her, and when she has recovered we will break the news to her."
I was deeply grateful. It was all arranged without exciting my sister"s suspicions. She told her that for many reasons it had been considered better to put off the marriage for some time; that I was going abroad for a year, and that she was to spend the year with Lady Thesiger.
She looked wistfully at me.
"It"s all very sudden, Edgar. Are you sure it is for the best?"
I steadied my voice and told her laughingly it was all for the best.
She asked where Coralie would be, and I told her that when she returned from the visit she was paying she would remain at Crown Anstey.