"Because," said Randall, "you must know, that in this matter I am the agent of another, and that the money with which I pay you is not mine, but only what he has intrusted to me."
"Well?"
"You will easily understand that, though I may be perfectly satisfied with your assurance, he is a different person. He has never met with you, and may very reasonably require some proof that the deed has been done."
"Would you know the hair of this man?" asked the Brazilian.
"I should."
He drew from his bosom a lock of hair which he had severed from the head of his victim.
Randall looked at it eagerly, turned pale, and uttered an exclamation of mingled surprise and dismay.
"You have made a great mistake," he said.
"A mistake?" echoed the other.
"Yes," said Randall; "you must have killed the wrong man!"