. If we were certified as to that, what would we not do
for the child in spite of the father's brutality? There is no
dishonesty on our side, George. You know of me, and I know of you,
that if every tittle of the evidence of that child's birth were in the
keeping of either of us, so that it could be destroyed on the moment,
it should be made as public as the winds of heaven to-morrow, so that
it was true evidence. If he be what he pretends to be, who would
interfere with him? But if he be not?"

"Any suspicion of that kind is unworthy of us;--except on very strong
ground."

"True. But if there be very strong ground, it is equally true that such
suspicion is our duty. Look at the case. When was it that he told you
that he was going to be married? About six months since, as far as my
memory goes."

"He said, 'I am to be married.'"

"That is speaking in the future tense; and now he claims to have been
married two or three years ago. Has he ever attempted to explain this?"

"He has not said a word about it. He is quite unwilling to talk about
himself."

"I dare say. But a man in such circumstances must be made to talk about
himself. You and I are so placed that if we did not make him talk about
himself, we ought to be made to make him do so. He may be deceitful if
he pleases. He may tell you and me fibs without end. And he may give us
much trouble by doing so. Such trouble is the evil consequence of
having liars in the world." Lord George winced at the rough word as
applied by inference to his own brother. "But liars themselves are
always troubled by their own lies. If he chooses to tell you that on a
certain day he is about to be married, and afterwards springs a
two-year old child upon you as legitimate, you are bound to think that
there is some deceit. You cannot keep yourself from knowing that there
is falsehood; and if falsehood, then probably fraud. Is it likely that
a man with such privileges, and such property insured to a legitimate
son, would allow the birth of such a child to be slurred over without
due notice of it? You say that suspicion on our part without strong
ground would be unworthy of us. I agree with you. But I ask you whether
the grounds are not so strong as to force us to suspect. Come," he
continued, as Lord George did not answer at once; "let us be open to
each other, knowing as each does that the other means to do what is
right. Do not you suspect?"

"I do," said Lord George.

"And so do