“Well—yes.”
“In espousing my cause, he is making active war upon Van Vernet?”
“So it appears.”
“Then it is safe to say that aside from the interest he has seen fit to take in—in my family and family affairs, he has some personal issue with Mr. Vernet.”
“Possibly.”
“Then,—how fast we progress—our detective friend must be a remarkably clever fellow, or our chances are very slender. Mr. Vernet is called one of the ablest detectives on the city force.”
“True.”
“Mr. Follingsbee, have you faith in the ability of this champion-detective to cope with such a man as Vernet?”
“Well,” says the elder gentleman slowly, “if you play your part, I’ll vouch for my friend. He is at least a match for Vernet.”
“Then I think it would not be a difficult matter to identify him.”