_Alfred Francesco, only son of Georgian Toritti afterwards Georgian Hazen._ Afterwards! What was meant by that _afterwards_?
That the woman had been married twice, and that this Alfred Francesco was the son of her first husband rather than of the one whose name he bore?
It looked that way.

There was a suggestion of Italian parentage in the Francesco which corresponded well with the decidedly Italian Toritti.
Perplexed and not altogether satisfied with his discoveries, he turned to leave the place when he found himself in the presence of a man carrying a kit of tools and wearing on his face a harsh and discontented expression.
As this man was middle-aged and had no other protection from the rain than a rubber cape for his shoulders, the cause of his discontent was easy enough to imagine; though why he should come into this place with tools was more than Mr.Ransom could understand.
[Illustration: "I cut them letters there fifteen years ago.

Now I'm to cut 'em out."] "Hello, stranger." It was this man who spoke.

"Interested in the Hazen monument, eh?
Well, I'll soon give you reason to be more interested yet.
Do you see this inscription--On June 7, 1885; Anitra, aged six, and the rest of it?
Well, I cut them letters there fifteen years ago.

Now I'm to cut 'em out.