"I'm morally certain he deserves it, but hang me if it will be easy to prove it!"
"A bottle of brandy and a half dozen soda," said Martin, to the attendant who came in answer to his call.
"Now tell me what you've done, Blount! Here, have a cigar before you begin."
Blount looked at him curiously, took the cigar, and quietly detailed all that he had learned in the last two days.
Martin listened attentively, or appeared to, and when his visitor finished, pushed over the bottle of brandy.
"Help yourself, Blount," he said, and then filled his own glass, but made no remark regarding the story he had just heard. As a matter of fact his thoughts were away off in Hanley Hall. The detective, however, knew nothing about that, and somewhat piqued by his indifference, asked:
"Have you given up the matter, Mr. Martin?"
Martin looked at him inquiringly.
"I mean the recovery of your papers."
Martin apparently tried to pull himself together.