"I never saw him in my life." 

 "Look here, Mr.—" 

 "Hammond is my name." 

 "Well, Mr. Hammond, your statements don't hang together. You began by saying that this man was your friend." 

 "I didn't mean that exactly, but I sympathize with him. It must be terrible to be arrested for such a crime and to find the evidence growing stronger in spite of your innocence." 

 "How do you know that he is innocent?" 

 Before Hammond could reply there came a knock at the door. 

 Nick answered it. 

 "Come in, Gaspard," he said, throwing the door wide open. 

 "You sent for me, and—Good God! who is this?" 

 "You know him, then?" 

 "Yes, yes, I know him," cried Gaspard; "he is the man who was in room A last night." 

 

 CHAPTER V. 

 PATSY'S TIP. 

 Gaspard's declaration produced a stunning effect upon Hammond. 

 At first he seemed thunderstruck. There was a look in his face which made Nick say to himself, "It isn't true." 

 But whether the accusation was true or false, Nick knew at once that Hammond recognized Gaspard. 

 Yet he couldn't be a regular visitor to the place, because Gaspard had said that he had never seen either of the two men before the fatal evening. 

 Therefore, as Hammond had recognized Gaspard, he must be the man who was in room 

 Prev. P 21/153 next