“Who persuaded you to commit such a crime?”
“A man named Hacket.”
“Who was this Hacket?”
“An agent of Schumacker, whom he also called Count Griffenfeld.”
The president turned to Schumacker: “Schumacker, do you know this Hacket?”
“You have forestalled me, Count d’Ahlefeld,” rejoined the old man; “I was about to ask you the same question.”
“John Schumacker,” said the president, “your hatred is ill advised. The court will put the proper value upon your system of defence.”
The bishop then said, turning to the short man, who seemed to fill the office of recorder and prosecutor: “Mr. Private Secretary, is this Hacket one of your clients?”
“No, your reverence,” replied the secretary.
“Does any one know what has become of him?”