Vandervent nodded.
"Of course. Only, if Garland testifies, he may mention Miss Deane. In which case I shall feel compelled to maintain that it was I who traced the murderer, who won from him his confession."
"You can't prove it," blustered Spofford.
"Think not?" Vandervent smiled.
Spofford's forehead wrinkled in thought. "The idea, of course, is that you want Miss Deane's name left completely out of this affair," he said.
"You grasp it completely," smiled Vandervent.
"Well, worse guys than Garland are takin' the air when they feel like it," said Spofford.
"He's a scoundrel," said Vandervent, "but if punishing him means smirching Miss Deane's name, he'd better go free."
Spofford rose to his feet.
"You'd better 'phone the coroner," he said.