. Carter," he said, anxiously, "can I trust you fully?"

Nick laughed.

"I shan't do anything to prevent it," he said.

"Will you swear to keep what I shall tell you a secret?"

"No, sir; I will not."

The man made a despairing gesture.

"I supposed that your business was always strictly confidential," he
said.

"So it is, but I take no oaths."

"I didn't mean that exactly, but--but--"

The man hesitated, stammered, and was unable to proceed.

"Come, sir," said Nick; "be calm. Tell me plainly what you want me to do
for you."

"It isn't for me; it's for a--for a friend of mine."

"Very well; what can I do for your friend?"

"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!"

"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,