"So," said H.M. "Was the charge true?"
"The charge was not true," replied Rich, with suffused violence. His hands shook. "Every medical man runs similar dangers. He is a fool if he practices hypnotism without a witness present. Let me explain. Some dentists, for instance, refuse to give anesthetics to a female patient unless their assistants are present — as an assistant, but also as a witness." He lifted his eyes. "I'm speaking of medical matters. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, son. Very well." Rich made a gesture.
"I was happily married, with two children. My wife took the children after the divorce." He paused, and again made a gesture. "I couldn't even understand the charge. Had it been
Hubert Fane, now, who was charged with that… but there we are. The thing meant ruin. Literal ruin."
"Is 'Richard Rich' really your name?"
"It is now. It wasn't then. It's the name I took when I went on the stage."
"On the stage?"
Rich lifted his shoulders.
"Well, a man must live. It was the only way I saw to make use of the profession I knew. Cbeap, if you like; but legitimate. I was extremely adept at hypnotism. That was my act. What I did tonight I have done a thousand times. I never vary it; I seldom fail in it. That's how I happened to have that revolver with the carefully prepared dummy bullets."