After this conversation, Nick went to see Lawrence Deever.
"Poor Pat's body is in the house," said he, meeting Nick at the door; "but I have kept my promise to you."
"Nobody knows of it, then?"
"Not from me or any of my friends."
"That is as it should be."
"I begin to believe," said Deever, "your idea is to spring this thing on old Jarvis complete. Make the case iron-clad; tie him up double and twisted; and then let it come out in the papers."
His eyes shone with malignity.
"I was surprised," he continued, "to see nothing about it in the papers this morning. Why do you suppose that fellow skipped out of the garden? Who was he, anyway?"
"Didn't you know him?" said Nick, who always escaped a falsehood when he could.
"No, I didn't."