He gave the Doctor formal notice that his drafts would not be honoured until the executors were satisfied concerning his identity; and he solemnly and legally "regretted the position Dr.Claudius had assumed towards those whose sacred duty it was to protect the interests of Dr.Claudius." The cunning repetition of name conveyed the idea of two personages, the claimant and the real heir, in a manner that did not escape the Doctor.
Since yesterday he had half regretted having lost his temper; and had he known that Screw had been completely duped by Mr.Barker, Claudius would probably have apologised to the lawyer.

Indeed, he had a vague suspicion, as the shadow of a distant event, that Barker was not altogether clear of the business; and the fact that the latter had shown so little surprise on hearing of his friend's sudden return to Europe had aroused the Doctor's imagination, so that he found himself piecing together everything he could remember to show that Barker had an interest of some kind in removing him from the scene.

Nevertheless, the burden of responsibility for the annoyance he was now suffering seemed to rest with Screw, and Screw should be taught a great lesson; and to that end Claudius would write a letter.

It was clear he was still angry.
The Doctor sat down to write; and his strong, white fingers held the pen with unrelenting determination to be disagreeable.

His face was set like a mask, and ever and anon his blue eyes gleamed scornfully.