But Mr Pottinger, as the reader is aware, had complications of another kind to disclose.

He astonished his visitor with an account of the surprise visit of Mr Ratman a few days previously, and of that gentleman's astounding claims to the name of Ingleton.
"What!" exclaimed the captain, "you mean to say that scoundrel actually claimed to be the lost son?
I always had a high opinion of his impudence, but I never imagined it capable of that.

Why, my dear sir, I have known him as a pettifogging money-lender in India for years." "Quite so; but did you know why and when he came to India ?" "I can't say I did.

Surely you don't credit his story ?" "Well, not exactly.

But it strikes me the gentleman will give us some difficulty." "Why?
What good can it do him even if he is what he claims! He cannot upset the will, which emphatically cuts him out of every possibility of benefit." "No; that leaves him no loophole, certainly.