“I have come here, sir, on very important business.”
“Your name, sir.”
The detective passed over his card, and as it happened Mr. Smith had heard of the officer and consequently was prepared to listen to him.
“I wish to ask you a few questions, sir, and I trust you will answer me freely and truly, and when I am through questioning you I have some very startling intelligence to impart.”
“I will answer you, sir, as far as I can.”
“What amount have you, as a special partner, invested in the firm of Fellman & Co.”
“A quarter of a million.”
“What do you know about Fellman?”
“Very little. I invested in the concern because young Burlein had been in my employ from boyhood, previous to his going into Wall street.”
“Then you must have known him pretty well.”