"My name is Hector Roscoe."

"I beg your pardon. Assuming by brother's communication to be true,
and I think you will not question his word, you have no claim to the
name."

"To what name have I a claim, then?" asked Hector, pointedly.

"To the name of your father--the last name, I mean. I have no
objection to your retaining the name of Hector."

"What was the name of my, father?" asked the boy.

"Ahem! My brother did not mention that in his letter. Quite an
omission, I must observe."

"Then it is clear that he meant to have me retain his own name,"
said Hector, decisively.

"That does not follow."

"As I know no other name to which I have a claim, I shall certainly
keep the name of the kindest friend I ever had, whether he was my
father or not," said Hector, firmly.

Allan Roscoe looked annoyed.

"Really," he said, "I think this ill-judged, very ill-judged. It
will lead to misapprehension. It will deceive people into the belief
that you are a real Roscoe."