Mr. Brooks proceeded to fill up the blank cheque for £500, imitating exactly the style of writing in the body of the genuine cheque. That was his part of the work. When that was done, and only the signature required, he handed both cheques over to Marston.
That gentleman then subjected them to an ingenious process, into the details of which, from motives of prudence, it will be perhaps, as well not to enter.
Neither spoke during the operation. When it was finished, Marston lifted the genuine cheque, and handed it to Brooks.
‘Look!’ he said.
Brooks turned it over and glanced at the back.
‘Not a mark on it!’ he said, after examining it carefully.
‘Now look at the forgery.’
Mr. Brooks took the duplicate cheque and looked at it closely.
‘Why, there’s no signature at all!’ he said. ‘What’s the use of this?’
‘That’s just the beauty of this process, my dear fellow,’ exclaimed Marston. ‘The old transfer business was clumsy, and almost sure to be found out. This, on the contrary, is elegant and defies detection. The man who invented this process made a fortune in America.’