If she was she must have changed fearfully." In the evening, John Clapp and Luke Harrison came round to the hotel to see him.
"Have you been to see your aunt ?" asked Clapp.
"Yes, I took tea there." "Have a good time ?" "Oh, I played the dutiful nephew to perfection.

The old lady thinks a sight of me." "How did you do it ?" "I agreed with all she said, told her how young she looked, and humbugged her generally." Clapp laughed.
"The best part of the joke is--will you promise to keep dark ?" "Of course." "Don't breathe it to a living soul, you two fellows.

_She isn't my aunt of all_!" "Isn't your aunt ?" "No, her true nephew is in New York--I know him .-- but I know enough of family matters to gull the old lady, and, I hope, raise a few hundred dollars out of her." This was a joke which Luke and Clapp could appreciate, and they laughed heartily at the deception which was being practised on simple Aunt Deborah, particularly when Ferdinand explained how he got over the difficulty of having different colored hair from the real owner of the name he assumed.
"We must have a drink on that," said Luke.

"Walk up, gentlemen." "I'm agreeable," said Ferdinand.
"And I," said Clapp.

"Never refuse a good offer, say I." Poor Aunt Deborah! She little dreamed that she was the dupe of a designing adventurer who bore no relationship to her..