"I thought I did from the writing of the note I received yesterday afternoon——"
"Ah—you received a note then?"
"Yes—wait." Catherwood dove a hand into the inside pocket of his coat. "Here it is," he said, and held out to his questioner a crumpled bit of paper written in a hand obviously disguised.
The assistant professor examined the writing closely.
"This, Mr. Catherwood," he opined finally, "is, as you see, 'back-hand.' Moreover, it is quite clear to me that it was penned by some one who used his left hand, although he is, naturally, what we call 'right handed.'"
The professor remembered his "The Count of Monte Cristo."
"Ah——"
At Catherwood's exclamation he looked up quickly.
"That's why I could not identify it," the young man added.
"But, Mr. Catherwood," the assistant professor continued, "isn't it rather odd that you did not see—did not recognize the two men who assailed you; for of course there were two—the note reads——"