“Why, yes, of course. He told me one lie, though.�
“Oh, he did, eh? What was it?�
“Perhaps it was unimportant. I made no mention of the fact that I had noticed it.�
“What was it?�
“He began by informing me that he arrived in the city only last evening at five o’clock. He said that he came to this office at half-past five, or near that time, and finding the office closed, sought a hotel. He went to the Mammoth.�
“Well?�
“I asked him how he passed the evening, and he replied that he went to the theater. I asked him what he saw, and he replied that it was the ‘The Chocolate Soldier.’�
“Well, what of that?�
“Nothing—only it happens that the last performance of ‘The Chocolate Soldier’ was given the night before last. I happen to know that, because I was there, and what is more, Carter, I saw this same young man there. He occupied a seat directly in front of me.â€�
The detective uttered a low whistle.