"The first part only," replied Prelice promptly, and narrated the events of the previous night from the time he went to Mrs. Rover's bal masqué to the time he left the Kensington Police Station to call upon his listener. During this latter part of the history Dr. Horace became restless, and wandered about his untidy room, stumbling over obstacles, and softly swearing, with a wonderful command of language. He appeared to be inattentive, but in reality had not lost a single word. When Prelice stopped he came to a halt before the young man. "I'll go with you to the Court," he declared. "The first thing to do is to save the girl. After that we can consider how to get Shepworth out of his difficulty."
"He is innocent, of course," observed Prelice, trying to read the rugged face of his new ally.
"Never said he wasn't," grumbled the doctor; then reflected for a few moments, raking his long beard with out-spread fingers. "See here," he burst out finally, "will you allow me to engineer this business?"
"I shall only be too glad. Are you going to use occult methods?"
"I don't need to. I have my own ideas, having read the newspapers."
"Then you think that Agstone murdered Lanwin?"
"No more than I think Shepworth murdered Agstone. On your own showing your barrister friend brought the knife to the flat. And it is on the false evidence of the knife, which you and Shepworth supplied, that Inspector Bruge seems to judge Agstone."
"Still——"
"Oh, don't talk poppy-cock," interrupted the little man impatiently.
"You are not polite, Horace."