"Speak up."
"I am guilty of the murder of Patrick Deever."
This confession produced no perceptible effect upon Nick, though the reader cannot have failed to perceive that the great detective had been working with a conviction of the doctor's innocence.
Of all the persons in the room, Deever exhibited the strongest emotion. He gasped, sprang to his feet, and then sat down again heavily.
"What do you say to that?" he exclaimed, turning to Nick.
"I am waiting to hear Dr. Jarvis' story," Nick replied.
"Yes," said the superintendent, "let us hear all about it."
Dr. Jarvis tried to speak, but the words would not come. He staggered and fell half-fainting into a chair.
"I cannot tell it," he said, when he had somewhat revived. "Wait till I am stronger."
"Perhaps that will not be necessary," said Nick.