A kind of fright came, and then they steadied.
"Oh yes, sir," he said mechanically.
"Where have you seen me ?" "In the picture on the wall, sir." "Whose picture, Falby ?" "Sir Gaston Belward, Sir." A smile lurked at the corners of Gaston's mouth.
"Gaston Belward.

Very well, then you know what to say to Sir William.
Show me into the library." "Or the justices' room, sir ?" "The justices' room will do." Gaston wondered what the justices' room was.

A moment after he stood in it, and the dazed Falby had gone, trying vainly to reconcile the picture on the wall, which, now that he could think, he knew was very old, with this strange man who had sent a curious cold shiver through him.

But, anyhow, he was a Belward, that was certain: voice, face, manner showed it.

But with something like no Belward he had ever seen.