"You mean to tell me that, even now, you don't know that Brake had two children, and that--that--oh, it's incredible!" "What's incredible ?" asked Folliot.

"What are you talking about ?" Bryce in his eagerness and surprise grasped Folliot's arm and shook it.
"Good heavens, man!" he said.

"Those two wards of Ransford's are Brake's girl and boy! Didn't you know that, didn't you ?" "Never!" answered Folliot.

"Never! And who's Ransford, then?
I never heard Brake speak of any Ransford! What game is all this?
What--" Before Bryce could reply, Folliot suddenly started, thrust his companion aside and went to one of the windows.

A sharp exclamation from him took Bryce to his side.