“Very well then. I will see that you understand. The police have been hunting a man called Red Farrell, but they have not been successful. The Chief has blamed the Captains—the Captains the detectives, and the papers have ridiculed them all. The police of other cities too have twitted them about it. Suddenly this young man is arrested under suspicious circumstances. No one seems particularly interested in him or knows much about him. Why shouldn’t he be Red Farrell? He is Red Farrell. Do you understand me?”
“I hear you making a very nasty and uncalled-for charge against the police of this City and——”
“One that you well know has both foundation and precedent. You know the men who compose the force. So do I. They have the same pride and ambition and morals that other men have. No more and no less. They discover Red Farrell and remove a reproach. Suppose Winter isn’t Farrell—well, he’s probably guilty anyhow. They want to win cases too!”
“Mr. Gordon, you have said about enough——”
“To persuade you that this is a proper case for further investigation?”
“No, Sir, and I will tell you right now that this case will not be adjourned for one hour!”
Gordon rose to his feet and faced his opponent, wording his question slowly and with deliberate emphasis.
“Of course you personally have no special interest in convicting this particular prisoner?”
Willard sprang from his seat and angrily tossed his cigarette into the fire.
“Mr. Gordon, take care you do not go too far.”