"Why," said Horace, bluntly, "had you ever heard of
papa before!"
"Had I heard of him? " said Mr. Kuypers. "I think
so. Why, my dear boy, your father is my oldest and
kindest friend!" At this exclamation even Mrs. Molyneux
showed amazement. Tom laid down his fork and looked to
see if the man was crazy, and Mr. Molyneux himself was
thrown off his balance.
Mr. Kuypers was a well-bred man, but this time he
could not conceal his amazement. He laid down knife and
fork both, looked up and almost laughed, as he said with
wonder,--
"Don't you know who I am?"
"We know you are our good angel to-day," said Mrs.
Molyneux, bravely; "and that is enough to know."
"But don't you know why I am here, or what sent me?"
Mr. Molyneux said that he understood very well that
his friend wanted to see justice done, and that he had
preferred to see to this in person.
"I thought you looked queer," said Mr. Kuypers,
frankly; "but still, I did not know I was changed. Why,
don't you remember Bruce? You remember Mrs. Chappell,
surely."
"Are you Bruce?" cried Mr. Molyneux; and he fairly
left his chair and went round the table to the young man.
"Why, I can see it now. But then--why, you were a boy,
you know, and this black beard--"
"But pray explain, pray explain," cried Tom. "The
mysteries increase on us. Who is Mrs.
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