“By my orders, he was accommodated with a chair, and when he was sufficiently recovered I began a conversation with him.
“‘Do you still persist in saying that you are the victim of a mistake, Mr. Halliday?’ I exclaimed.
“‘Most certainly I do,’ he replied, earnestly. ‘Some one must have a strong and fatal resemblance to me.’
“‘Will you tell me how you spent your time on the day of the alleged robbery?’
“‘With pleasure,’ he answered; ‘but, I presume—excuse my asking the question—that I am talking to some one connected with the police.’
“‘I am a detective, and in my professional capacity may be of service to you.’
“‘You are very good, and I esteem myself fortunate in having met with you. In the first place, I must tell you that I am a civil engineer by profession, and tolerably well known to people who move in scientific circles. On the day in question, when the man who gave me in charge was robbed and plundered, I was attending a meeting at Muswell-hill and giving evidence as to the advisability of extended sewerage in the vicinity before the Muswell-hill Board of Works. The solicitors to the Board will prove it. The members of the Board will prove it.’
“‘Very good, so far,’ I replied. ‘Leave your case in my hands and make yourself easy as to the result. I shall, with your permission, instruct Mr. Sea, one of the cleverest practising barristers we have in cases of this kind, to defend you when brought before the court to-morrow morning, and to ask for a remand. You must put up with the worry and annoyance of imprisonment for a few days. Bring all your philosophy to your aid, and I will see if I cannot unravel this tangled skein. By the way, I should like to ask you one thing.’
“‘As many as you like,’ he replied readily.
“‘Does any of your family resemble you in any way? Have you ever been taken for any one else on a previous occasion?’