He was gazing at Pike just as fixedly as the latter gazed at him.

Did the man wish to insinuate that the unwelcome visitor had again mistaken the one brother for the other, and the result had been a struggle between them, ending in this?
The idea rushed into his mind, and a dark flush overspread his face.
"You have no grounds for thinking that man--you know who I mean--attacked my brother a second time ?" "No, I have no grounds for it," shortly answered Pike.
"He was near to the spot at the time; I saw him there," continued Lord Hartledon, speaking apparently to himself; whilst the flush, painfully red and dark, was increasing rather than diminishing.
"I know you did," returned Pike.
The tone grated on Lord Hartledon's ear.

It implied that the man might become familiar, if not checked; and, with all his good-natured affability, he was not one to permit it; besides, his position was changed, and he could not help feeling that it was.

"Necessity makes us acquainted with strange bedfellows," says the very true proverb; and what might have been borne yesterday would not be borne to-day.
"Let me understand you," he said, and there was a stern decision in his tone and manner that surprised Pike.

"Have you any reason whatever to suspect that man of having injured, or attempted to injure my brother ?" "_I_'ve not," answered Pike.