"Have I alluded to him as a _stranger_, sir?" Alan passed his hand across his brow, and said slowly: "He is not a stranger to you and, evidently, he knows me remarkably well; I might say too well." "Ahem! You would be likely to recall your words, if you did." "Mr. Follingsbee, _who_ is this man?" "I am not at liberty to speak his name." "_What_ is he, then?" "First of all, a gentleman; a man whose championship does you honor, for it proves that he believes in you, in spite of this Van Vernet." "Was it not a strange freak for this _gentleman_, disguised just as he afterward came to you, to enter my study window, and conceal himself in my cabinet?" Mr. Follingsbee looked up with lively interest. "Did he do that?" he asked quickly. "He did that." "Well," said Mr. Follingsbee slowly, "I should say that it was quite like him. He did not talk of his own exploits when he came to me; I fancy his time was limited." "Probably; now, Mr. Follingsbee, I think I see things, some things, in a clearer light. This organ-grinder of mine, this gentleman of yours, this anonymous friend, is a _detective_!" "Umph!" mutters the lawyer, half to himself, "we are beginning to use our wits." Then in a louder tone: "Ah, so we are no longer lawyer and witness?" "No," with a quiet smile; "we are two lawyers. Let us remain such." "With all my heart," cries Mr. Follingsbee, extending his hand; "let us remain such." Alan takes the proffered hand, and begins again. "This champion of mine, then, is a detective; you admit that?" "Well--yes." "In espousing my cause, he is making active war upon Van Vernet?" "So it appears." "Then it is safe to say that aside from the interest he has seen fit to take in--in my family and family affairs, he has some personal issue with Mr. Vernet." "Possibly." "Then,--how fast we progress--our detective friend must be a remarkably clever fellow, or our chances are very slender. Mr. Vernet is called one of the ablest detectives on the city force." "True." "Mr. Follingsbee, have you faith in the ability of this champion-detective to cope with such a man as Vernet?" "Well," says the elder gentleman slowly, "if you play your part, I'll vouch for my friend. He is at least a match for Vernet." "Then I think it would not be a difficult matter to identify him." "Don't waste your time," interrupts Mr. Follingsbee quickly; "I have told you all that I am at liberty to tell." "As you please; but before I begin my story, I must be sure that it is _the_ story. Yesterday, as I told you, I had an interview with my sister-in-law." "Yes." "I had observed some things that puzzled me, and--does that letter of Leslie's contain any statements concerning her early life?" He breaks off abruptly. "It does; many statements." "Do you know anything of her early history?" "Yes." "Is she the daughter of Thomas Uliman?" "His adopted daughter; yes." "And are her parents living?"