“A jury wouldn’t take your evidence very seriously.”
“Perhaps not,” Mason said. “It would be your word against mine.”
“And you’re interested in saving your client’s neck,” Mattern said.
“Just as you’re interested in saving your own,” Mason reminded him.
“Mine isn’t in any danger.”
“And,” Mason went on, “you’ll also remember that one of the reasons for this visit was to ask you if you had any financial interest in that stock sale of the Western Prospecting Company.”
“And I assured you that I didn’t,” Mattern said.
Mason arose, stretched, yawned, and said casually, “Know Colonel Gilliland?”
“No,” Mattern said.
“In charge of the income tax evasions detail here,” Mason said. “Charming chap. You’ll probably get acquainted with him later on.”