"One portion of my object has been accomplished. The other was to ask you to write out for me a copy of the note."
"But who was it pursued us up Broadway?"
"Oh, I have rivals!" he chuckled. "I flatter myself that was rather neatly done. Will you give me a copy of the note, Mr. Lester?"
"No," I answered squarely. "You'll have to go to the police for that. I'm out of the case."
He bowed across the table to me with a little laugh. As I looked at him, his imperturbable good humor touched me.
"I'll tell you one thing, though," I added. "The writer of the note knew nothing of Rogers's color-blindness—you're off the scent there."
"I am?" he asked amazedly. "Then how did you know it, Mr. Lester?"
"I suppose you detectives would call it deduction—I deduced it."
He took a contemplative puff or two, as he looked at me.
"Well," he exclaimed, at last, "I must say that beats me! Deduced it! That was mighty clever."