Once inside of Mr. Woodward's library, the merchant closed the door behind me and then invited me to take a seat beside his desk, at the same time throwing himself back in his easy chair.
"I suppose you thought it rather singular that I should send for you," he said by way of an opening.
"Yes, sir, I did," was all I could reply.
"I thought as much. It was only an impulse of mine, sir, only an impulse. I wished to see if we cannot arrange this—this little difficulty without publicity. I would rather lose a good deal, yes, sir, a good deal, than have my name dragged into court."
"All I ask is for justice," I replied calmly. "I am under arrest for a crime of which I am innocent. On the other hand, you are trying to shield a man I know is guilty."
I expected a storm of indignation from Mr. Woodward because of the last remark. Yet he showed no sign of resentment.
"Don't you think you might be mistaken in your identification of Mr. Stumpy?" he replied, and I noticed that again he nearly stumbled in pronouncing the tramp's name.
"No, sir," I replied promptly.
"Remember that you saw him only by lantern light, and then but for a few minutes."
"I saw him by daylight as well."