"What was that?" Davis inquired, but I did not think it worth while to go into the details of my meeting with Belle Stanton and did not answer.
"The case is too much for such as Miles to solve, I think," Littell said, and then looking at me added, "You might do better, Dick, but I am not sure the job would repay you."
"I would willingly undertake it, nevertheless," I answered, "if I only knew where to begin."
"If there is any truth in Littell's words, it might lead you to very unpleasant consequences," Van Bult here suggested.
I was reflecting over his words, when Littell, reading my thoughts, added:
"If you do continue your investigation of this case, and it does lead to some man you know, what will you do?"
"I can do but one thing," I answered, "give that man to justice."
"And if he should be friend, what then?"
Such a contingency had never occurred to me before, but in the trend of the conversation it seemed a possibility, and I felt its awful responsibility.
"Give it up, Dick," advised Davis; "Littell is only dissecting you morally, and the idea is too absurd to talk about, much less to accept seriously"; but I saw the others were waiting for my decision, and I would not evade it.