"It is, and, moreover," (going on with his measurements) "there is not the slightest variation between the two signatures in the length of a letter. Indeed, to the naked eye, one signature is the counterpart of the other, in every characteristic."
"How do you determine, then, that it is anything but a genuine signature?"
"The imitation is too nearly perfect."
"How can that be?"
"Well; no man writes his signature twice alike. There is not one chance in a million that he will do so, without definitely attempting to do so, and then he will be obliged to use certain appliances to guide him."
"Now will you apply the same test to the other signature?"
Prof. Timms went carefully to work again with his measure. He examined the form of every letter in detail, and compared it with its twin, and declared, at the close of his examination, that he found the second name as close a counterfeit as the first.
"Both names on the assignment, then, are exact fac-similes of the names on the autograph letters," said Mr. Balfour.
"They are, indeed, sir—quite wonderful reproductions."
"The work must have been done, then, by a very skillful man," said Mr. Balfour.