feared
nothing; nay, rather a great joy came into my heart that at last I
should meet the Tresidders in this way face to face.

"Jasper Pennington!" cried Richard Tresidder, and then both Nick and his
grandmother started up as though they had been attacked by a great evil.

"And John Penryn." This Naomi's father said.

"What?"

"John Penryn. Do you remember me, Dick Tresidder?"

"No, no. John Penryn committed suicide. He killed his wife and committed
suicide." It was my grandfather's second wife who spoke.

"He did not kill his wife, he did not commit suicide," replied John
Penryn quietly. "True, I struck my wife in a fit of madness. Of the
provocation I will say nothing. I thought I had killed her, and then,
like a coward, I ran away from my home, afraid to face what would
follow. But in the mercy of God I did not kill her. In the mercy of God,
too, a child was born to us; and you became her guardian, Richard
Tresidder. Where is she now?"

For a moment silence fell upon the company. All awaited the outcome of
the strange scene. I watched Richard Tresidder's face, and saw how
frightened he was. I was sure, too, that his mind was seeking some way
out of the difficulty in which he was placed.

"You are an impostor. We cannot speak to you. Leave the house!" Again
it was my grandfather's second wife who spoke.

"If you wish," replied Naomi's father, "it shall be taken to a court of
law. It would be painful for me to have the past recalled, but it shall
be so if you will. You are my daughter's legal guardian, and until my
identity is established you can exercise a certain amount of control.
But remember this, if my past is made public, so will yours be. I shall
want many things explained which will not be creditable to you, neither
will you be free from the law's just punishment. My child will be placed
in the witness-box, and she will have to tell many things which, I
should judge, will not be pleasant to you."

In saying this he never raised his voice, although I knew his excitement
was great, and that he had much difficulty in restraining his passion.

For a few seconds there was a deathly silence, for neither Richard
Tresidder nor his mother spoke a word. Both seemed stunned by what was
said. I saw, however, that presently they looked at the men who stood
near, and who as yet had not spoken a word.

"I do not think you will find physical force of much use," went on Mr.
Penryn quietly, "for even if Jasper P