Percy, ready to clutch at any straw of hope, and jumping at once to the conclusion that the only business on which any one could possibly call at the house was about Jeffreys, told Walker to show the gentleman up.
He was a dark, handsome man, with a few streaks of grey in his hair, and a keen, cold look in his eye which Percy mistrusted.
"We're old friends, I fancy," said he, nodding to the boy as he entered.
"At least, I fancy I saw you sixteen or seventeen years ago." "I must have been jolly young then," said Percy.
"You were--about a week.

Your father and I were college friends.

I gave him up as a deserter when he married, and might have cut his acquaintance altogether, only as he happened to marry my sister, I was bound to keep up appearances and come and inspect my nephew when he made his appearance." "You're my Uncle Halgrove, then?
I thought you were dead." "I sympathise keenly with your disappointment.

I am alive and well, and hoped to find my brother-in-law at home." "They'll be back to-morrow," said Percy.
"Have you dined, my boy ?" "No, not yet." "That's well; they can lay for two.

I'll sleep here to-night." Percy scrutinised his uncle critically.
"Look here, uncle," he said, rather nervously, "it may be all right, you know, and I'd be awfully sorry not to be civil.