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 A, because the man in room B had not seen the head waiter,
according to Gaspard's story.

Hammond, after the first shock of surprise, recovered his nerve
wonderfully.

He calmly took a chair and sat there in deep thought for nearly five
minutes. He paid no attention to questions.

Finally he looked up and said:

"I don't know why I should deny it to you. There is no charge against
the man in room A."

"None whatever," said Nick. "He is wanted merely as a witness."

"It occurred to me that you might have some theory of a conspiracy in
which both men were concerned."

"I never thought of it."

"Then I am not to be put under arrest?"

"Certainly not, unless some new evidence appears, and I do not expect
it."

"Very well; I was the man in room A."

"And who was the lady?"

"I decline to mention her name. She has nothing to do with this case.
You will easily understand that I do not wish to bring a lady's name
into a tragedy of this kind."

"I can understand that. Now tell me why you feel so sure of this man
Jones' innocence."

"Will you promise to keep me out of this affair as much as you can?"

"Why do you wish it? What are you afraid of?"

"Well," said Hammond, looking very much embarrassed, "I'm a married man,
very respectable sort of a fellow; and the lady with whom I dined was
not my wife. It's all right, you know. My wife is not a jealous woman.
But the thing would not look well in print."

"I won't make this public if I can help it, Mr. Hammond. Not that I have
much sympathy for you. You shouldn't have been there. But the publicity
would annoy your wife, and do nobody any good."

"Thank you," said Hammond, with a grim smile; "now I will tell my sto