“I only know that you called yourself Smith.”
“Yes; it’s surprising what a fool a man can make of himself,” dejectedly.
He took the photographs from his pocket, and said entreatingly: “Say, professor, do go with me to my lawyer, and tell him that you took these with the ‘X’ ray, and don’t say anything about Smith;” this last in a tone of intense disgust.
They were just entering a park, and seated themselves on a bench, while Christopher told the whole story. The professor laughed, even as he said: “I’m sorry for you, and will help you all I can.”
Once more Christopher climbed the stairs to the lawyer’s office. Mr. Hurd arose to his feet wrathfully. “You are the most persistent annoyance that I ever met——”
Christopher interrupted him: “Mr. Hurd, allow me to introduce to you the eminent Professor Blank.”
The lawyer jerked his head slightly, attaching no importance to the name. The Professor bowed courteously, at the same time handing him his card.
As Mr. Hurd glanced at the bit of pasteboard, his manner underwent a great change: “Please be seated,” said he urbanely.
Professor Blank bowed again: “This gentleman requested me to accompany him to your office, to testify that I took these cathodographs of him with the ‘X’ ray. This represents him as he appeared when I first saw him,” laying the photograph on the desk: “After having the last of the cathodographs taken he was very ill for a long time; his hair had nearly all fallen before his illness, and during that illness he became emaciated as you see him.”
Mr. Hurd stood gazing from Christopher to the photograph, and back again in amazement.