"I could, but I would not do so without his permission."
"We are both on guard, as it were, Mr. Rathbeal. I was Robert Grantham's schoolfellow."
"That is a piece of news," said Rathbeal, and added significantly, "He had other schoolfellows."
"Shall we say one especially?"
"Yes, we will say that."
"Whose name you know?"
"Whose name I know."
"I am tempted to make a curious proposition to you, which if you accede to, and it turns out successful, may satisfy each of us that we may work together on behalf of one whose career has been unfortunate and unhappy."
"Make your proposition, sir."
"One other of Robert Grantham's schoolfellows has been referred to. We will each write down his name on separate pieces of paper, which we will exchange. If the name is the same, we can proceed with our conversation with less reserve."