"So get him there."
Methley nodded and turned away; then he turned back and pointed at
Carless' room.
"What do they really think in there?" he whispered. "Tell me--between
ourselves?"
"That he is an impostor, and that there's a conspiracy," replied Viner.
Methley nodded again, and Viner went back. The men whom he had left were
talking excitedly.
"It was the only course to take!" Mr. Carless was declaring.
"Uncompromising hostility! We could do no other. You saw--quite
well--that he was all for money. I will engage that we could have settled
with him for one half of what he asked. But--who is he?"
"The middle finger of his right hand is gone!" said Mr. Pawle, who had
been very quiet and thoughtful during the recent proceedings. "Remember
that, Carless!"
"A most extraordinary coincidence!" exclaimed Mr. Carless excitedly. "I
don't care twopence what anybody says--we all know that the most
surprising coincidences do occur. Nothing but a coincidence! I
assert--what is it, Portlethwaite?"
The elderly clerk had been manifesting a strong desire to get in a word,
and he now rapped his senior employer's elbow.
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