"He is accused of a terrible crime, of which he is entirely innocent. I want you to save him." 

 "I have been asked to do that many times." 

 "And you have always succeeded?" 

 "Oh, no; in several cases the persons have been hanged." 

 The visitor shuddered violently. 

 "I had heard," he said, "that you never failed to find the guilty persons and to save the innocent." 

 "That is the truth. It has been my good fortune to leave no case unsettled." 

 "But you said that these innocent persons had been hanged." 

 "They were hanged," said Nick, "but they were not innocent. Their friends assured me that the persons were entirely guiltless, but it was not true. 

 "And therefore," Nick continued, looking straight into the man's eyes, "I should advise you to be very sure of your friend's innocence before you put the case in my hands." 

 The visitor looked very much relieved. 

 "I'm perfectly sure of it," he cried. "My friend had nothing to do with this case." 

 "I'm glad to hear it. Who is he?" 

 "The man who has been arrested in this restaurant murder case." 

 "John Jones?" 

 "That is the name he has given to the police." 

 "But isn't that his right name?" 

 "I—I don't know," stammered the visitor. 

 "He must be a very particular friend of yours, since you don't know what his name is!" 

 Prev. P 20/153 next