And Spargo took out of his pocket-book a carefully-mounted photograph of John Marbury—the original of the process-picture which he had had made for the Watchman. He handed it over.
“Do you recognize that photograph as that of anybody you know?” he asked. “Look at it well and closely.”
Mr. Quarterpage put on a special pair of spectacles and studied the photograph from several points of view.
“No, sir,” he said at last with a shake of the head. “I don’t recognize it at all.”
“Can’t see in it any resemblance to any man you’ve ever known?” asked Spargo.
“No, sir, none!” replied Mr. Quarterpage. “None whatever.”
“Very well,” said Spargo, laying the photograph on the table between them. “Now, then, I want you to tell me what John Maitland was like when you knew him. Also, I want you to describe Chamberlayne as he was when he died, or was supposed to die. You remember them, of course, quite well?”
Mr. Quarterpage got up and moved to the door.
“I can do better than that,” he said. “I can show you photographs of both men as they were just before Maitland’s trial. I have a photograph of a small group of Market Milcaster notabilities which was taken at a municipal garden-party; Maitland and Chamberlayne are both in it. It’s been put away in a cabinet in my drawing-room for many a long year, and I’ve no doubt it’s as fresh as when it was taken.”
He left the room and presently returned with a large mounted photograph which he laid on the table before his visitor.