"Was it you that knocked me over?"
"No, indeed," smiled Bordine. "I was never known to assault an officer."
"Then how—"
"I will explain."
The young engineer did so, telling all the circumstances and concluding with:
"I am as deeply puzzled as you can be, at the man's motive in rescuing me from your hands. Evidently he mistook me for another person, since he addressed me as Andrew Barkswell."
"And is not that your name?"
"Certainly not. I hope you did not make the same mistake. Evidently you did, for, if my memory serves me, you addressed me by that name as well as my own when you arrested me last night."
"Last night?"
"Yes. It is quite morning now."