"I don't know but I am," answered Hector, with a calm look of
defiance, which aggravated Allan Roscoe.

"Have I not told you you are not?" he said, frowning.

"You have; but you have not proved it," said Hector.

"I am surprised that you should cling to a foolish delusion. You are
only preparing trouble for yourself. If my word is not sufficient--"

"You are an interested party. This story, if true, gives you my
property."

"At any rate, you may take your father's--I mean my brother's--word
for it."

"If he had told me so, I would believe it," said Hector.

"You have it in black and white, in the paper I showed you. What
more do you want?"

"I want to be sure that that document is genuine. However, I won't
argue the question now. I have only been giving you my reasons for
keeping the name I have always regarded as mine."

Allan Roscoe thought it best to drop the subject; but the boy's
persistency disturbed him.