CHAPTER 12 COLONEL GREYSON’S VISIT
That very day Mr. Hamilton had an unexpected visitor, and he knew at once that the friends of Sir Harold had discovered his retreat.
He met the intruder at the garden gate, and Colonel Greyson (for it was he) regarded him suspiciously.
“Good-morning, sir,” Hamilton said.
“Good-morning,” was the gruff rejoinder. “You have a gentleman staying here, I believe?”
“Yes, sir. Sir Harold Annesley is here. Do you wish to see him?”
“One moment, my friend. A detective has traced him. I trust that you have not detained him against his will?”
“On the other hand, sir, I cannot persuade him to leave,” replied Hamilton, with dignity.
“I have heard that he met with an accident that paralyzed his memory. No matter how I obtained the information—there is the substance of it. Now answer me truthfully, Mr.—Mr.——”
“Hamilton,” was the calm reply, although the old musician strongly resented the brusque, condemnatory manner of his interlocutor. “Your information is perfectly correct. May I ask, sir, who and what you are?”
The colonel bent upon him a ferocious glance.
“I? My name is Greyson—Colonel Greyson. I have known Sir Harold since he was a mere boy of twenty. I succeeded to the co-trusteeship of his business and social welfare when his natural guardian died. I have traced him here, and will be responsible for him, while I may have to hold you responsible for his detention!”
“I am prepared to meet any reasonable question you may think fit to put to me,” was the haughty reply; “but I object to this bluster.”
“Why did you not send for his friends? Why has he not received proper medical treatment?”
“I have valid reasons for my actions, however neglectful they may seem to you. Sir Harold has been in good hands,” Hamilton said. “Will you follow me, sir?”
“Wait!” the colonel commanded. “I have not quite done with you, Mr. Hamilton. Never let it be said that I condemn a man unheard, and if you are as innocent as you strive to appear, you will not be afraid to answer one or two questions which, to save time, I will put to you in categorical order. As a man of sense, it must at once be apparent to you that you are guilty of a serious misdemeanor in the eyes of the law for retaining a titled and wealthy man without making a single effort to restore him to his friends. To add to this, you have permitted him to regain bodily health at the expense of his mind, while proper medical treatment would doubtless have resulted in sound reason also. To my thinking, this constitutes in itself a most serious offense, as the natural conclusions are that you have had but one end in view—extortion!”
Mr. Hamilton flushed angrily and knitted his brows.
“Pray go on with your questions,” he said. “I am prepared to answer.”
“Good,” the colonel replied. “Now, sir, when and where did you first make the acquaintance of Sir Harold Annesley?”
