“Letter! What letter? What do you mean?”
“Don't you know? That was my biggest card and it fell flat. Don't know? Oh, well, if you don't know about the letter, you must ask your cousin. He wouldn't give it up. I guess he's got it yet.”
Roy was much mystified. He could not imagine what the letter could be, or what bearing it had on the case.
“Stockley, you have told us some things of importance. Now will you not go farther? You know I am innocent of the robbery, and of any possible connection with it?”
“No doubt about that,” said the other.
“Now to make your story complete, and of immense value to me, will you not reiterate your statement before Bracebridge and Beecham here that you know me to be innocent of all the charges which have been circulated about me in the yard?”
“Why, yes. I repeat emphatically that you are guiltless of them all.”
“Thanks! thanks! You are sure of what you say?”
“Quite sure. You are scot-free.”
“Thanks again. Now, Stockley, as you are quite sure, do you not see the only way in which you can convince others that you are correct is to admit you know the thief?”