confidence, and we do not doubt you will esteem his merits.' Duly signed
by the House, 'Defresnier et Cie.' Very well. I undertake to see M.
Obenreizer presently, and clear him out of the way. That clears the
Swiss postmark out of the way. So now, my dear Wilding, tell me what I
can clear out of _your_ way, and I'll find a way to clear it."

More than ready and grateful to be thus taken charge of, the honest wine-
merchant wrung his partner's hand, and, beginning his tale by
pathetically declaring himself an Impostor, told it.

"It was on this matter, no doubt, that you were sending for Bintrey when
I came in?" said his partner, after reflecting.

"It was."

"He has experience and a shrewd head; I shall be anxious to know his
opinion. It is bold and hazardous in me to give you mine before I know
his, but I am not good at holding back. Plainly, then, I do not see
these circumstances as you see them. I do not see your position as you
see it. As to your being an Impostor, my dear Wilding, that is simply
absurd, because no man can be that without being a consenting party to an
imposition. Clearly you never were so. As to your enrichment by the
lady who believed you to be her son, and whom you were forced to believe,
on her showing, to be your mother, consider whether that did not arise
out of the personal relations between you. You gradually became much
attached to her; she gradually became much attached to you. It was on
you, personally you, as I see the case, that she conferred these worldly
advantages; it was from her, personally her, that you took them."

"She supposed me," objected Wilding, shaking his head, "to have a natural