"That's the man, I believe."
"Why?"
"Never mind why," said Dunn. "But supposing it was, could we prove it against him?"
"I doubt it," said Cartwright cheerfully. "Probably no one would know it but his runner. And Bill Haines would perjure himself as easy as drink lager."
"But if we did prove it?"
"There'd be an appeal, and so on," said the chief.
He indicated large and generous delay on the part of the merciful American law by a wave of his hand.
"You see we couldn't prove, anyhow, that he knew you was you," said Cartwright, "and if I know my own business, it would come down to a matter of assault and so many dollars."
"That's what I imagined," said the admiral. "So I propose to take the matter in hand myself and relieve you of it. For though Smith, or the real man, might come off easily, if I choose to have it made an international business some one will have to pay who is not guilty."
"That's likely enough," said Cartwright uneasily. "On the whole, admiral, I'd rather you took the job on yourself, provided it was put through quietly. What do you propose?"