"Pardon me," interrupted Mr. Pyecroft. "Judge Harvey, these gentlemen here have been upon the point of making a blunder that would be ludicrous did it not have its serious side. That's why I had you called. The fact is, they desire to arrest me." "Arrest you!" exclaimed the Judge. "Yes, arrest me," Mr. Pyecroft went on, easily, yet under his easy words trying to suggest certain definite contingencies. "That would be bad enough in itself. But, as you know, Judge Harvey, my arrest would unfortunately but necessarily involve the arrest of several other quite innocent persons--bring about a great public scandal--and create a situation that would be deplorable in every particular. You see that, Judge?" Judge Harvey got the covered meaning. "I see. But what do they want to arrest you for?" "On a most absurd charge," answered Mr. Pyecroft, smiling,--but eyes straight into Judge Harvey's eyes. "They seem to think I am Thomas Preston." "Thomas Preston!" cried the Judge. "Yes, the man that forged those Jefferson letters you bought." Mr. Pyecroft saw the puzzled semi-recognition that he had observed in the Judge's face the night before flash into amazed, full recognition. Quickly but without appearance of haste, he stepped forward diverting attention from the Judge's face, and made himself the center of the party's eyes. "You see, lieutenant and officers," he said easily, filling in time to give Judge Harvey opportunity to recover and think--and still aiming his meaning at the Judge, "you see, I have here summoned before you the best possible witness to my identity. You threaten to arrest and expose me and two other persons in this house. Judge Harvey knows, as well as I know, how unfortunate it would be for these parties, and how displeasing to Mrs. De Peyster, if you should make the very great blunder of arresting me as Thomas Preston. Now, Judge Harvey,"--with a joking smile,--"you know who I am. Will you please inform the lieutenant whether I am the man you wish to have arrested?" Judge Harvey stared, silent, his face twitching. "Is what he says O.K., Judge?" queried Lieutenant Sullivan. "He ain't the man you want arrested?" "He is not," the Judge managed to get out. "From the way you hesitated--" "The Judge's hesitation, Lieutenant," Mr. Pyecroft interrupted in his pleasant tone, "was due to his amazement at the utter grotesqueness of the situation. He was for a moment utterly taken aback. That's it, isn't it, Judge?" "Yes," said Judge Harvey. The lieutenant twisted his derby in chagrined, ireful hands. "Some of my men have been damned fools again!" he exploded. He got himself back under control. "Judge Harvey, I hope you'll excuse our buttin' in like this--and--and won't find it necessary to mention it to the heads of the department." "It's--it's all right," said the Judge. "And you, Mr.--Mr.--" "Simpson--Archibald Simpson," supplied Mr. Pyecroft. "Mr. Simpson, I hope you don't mind this too much?"