He died about eight months ago; no doubt it was in the newspapers at the time, and a newspaper could certainly be found which should contain a notice of his death.

Therefore, if the real Dr.Claudius were dead this Dr.
Claudius was a sham, an impostor, a man obtaining money by personating the dead--in short, a criminal.

However, it might not be necessary to proceed with all the rigour of the law, and he might be quietly sent back to Germany.
Of course Mr.Barker was responsible in some measure for having introduced this villain to the Countess and to the Duke.

But how could Mr.Barker, a creature of sunny, lamb-like innocence, be expected to know an impostor at first sight?
Claudius had acted his part so very well, you know, and Barker had been deceived by his apparent frankness; he had not even made any inquiries in Heidelberg, but had simply gone to the address his father had given him.

Of course, also, the pretender had adopted the obvious expedient of taking the dead man's lodgings; had installed himself there, and called himself "Dr.Claudius." Nobody in America had ever seen the real Dr.Claudius; none of the yachting party had any means of knowing whether he were what he pretended to be or not; the only person who vouched for him was Silas B.Barker junior.