"It cannot be dispensed with. You will be served with a notice to appear as a witness." "When?" "Next Friday at the Bishop Street Police Court. There is a clever lawyer against us, Mr. Pallaret, and my instructions are to make the case in its initial stages as strong as possible, for he will exert all his powers to break it down." "I must appear, I suppose," he said. "And you will maintain that Mr. Reginald Boyd is the man." "Yes, to the best of my knowledge and belief." "Mr. Pallaret is a skilful cross-examiner." "I will be prepared for him." "He will endeavour to throw discredit upon your statement." There was just the suspicion of a smile on his lips as he said, "Let him try." "It will be the more necessary for you to be firm, doctor," I said, and I was curious to see whether he would fall into the trap, "because Mrs. Death's evidence as to the time you saw Mr. Reginald Boyd come out of the house is in direct contradiction to yours." "Yes, I know." "She says she heard the clock of Saint Michael's Church strike three when she was in the Square." "She is mistaken. She might easily be, alarmed as she was for the safety of her husband." He had fallen into the trap. Here was a man who had stated that I was the first visitor he had had this week, and that he had not seen a newspaper, acknowledging in his last replies to me that he was acquainted with the evidence Mrs. Death had given in the Coroner's Court yesterday. If it occurred to him that he had contradicted himself he did not gather from me that I was aware of it. I rose to go, and kept my face to him. "I will wish you good night, doctor," I said, and then I lingered. "By the way, might I see that clever little device of yours for throwing light to a distance?" "I am sorry I cannot show it to you," he replied. "It is being repaired. Good night." He was anxious to be rid of me, but I still lingered. "It is from the back windows of your house, doctor, that you can see into Catchpole Square?" "Yes," he replied, and his voice was not cordial; but that I judge it seldom is. I mean, that it was more guarded. "Would you mind showing me the window you looked out of when you saw Mr. Reginald Boyd?" "I cannot show you the room to-night. It is used as a sleeping apartment by one of the females in the house." "I beg your pardon; but I should like to see it before next Friday." "There will be no difficulty. Good night." "Good night," I said again. He accompanied me to the street door, inviting me by a motion of his hand to precede him down the stairs. I would not be so impolite. I insisted upon his going first, and I followed him, with my right hand in the pocket containing my little revolver. Our last salutations exchanged, he shut the street door upon me. I walked to the end of the street, and then, on the opposite side of the road, slowly retraced my steps till I was within twenty yards or so of the house, and waited till Constable Applebee came round on his beat.