"Indeed, it is," said Mr. Flexen. "It's an uncommonly good signature too. The 'Loud' is perfect. But the 'water' gives it away. The forger had evidently practised it a lot. In fact, he wrote the 'Loud' straight off. But the 'water' has no less than five distinct pauses in it--under the microscope, of course--where he paused to think, or perhaps to look at a genuine signature, the endorsement on the cheque very likely." Mr. Harrison sniffed ever so faintly, and said: "Of course, I've had experience of handwriting experts--not very much, thank goodness!--and you differ among yourselves so. It's any odds that another expert will find those pauses in quite different places from you, or even no pauses at all." Mr. Flexen laughed gently and said: "Perhaps. But he ought not to." "There you are. And when it comes to a jury," said Mr. Harrison, and he threw out his hands. "Besides, if you got your experts to agree, you'd have to show a very strong motive." "Oh, we've got that--we've got that," said Mr. Carrington with conviction. "Well, of course that will make it easier for you to get the jury to believe your handwriting experts rather than those of the other side," said Mr. Harrison, without any enthusiasm. Then he added, with rather more cheerfulness: "But you never can tell with a jury." "No; that's true," said Mr. Flexen quickly. "I'm sure we're very much obliged to you for showing us the letter." There was nothing more to be done at the bank, and having again thanked Mr. Harrison, they took their leave of him. He showed no great cordiality in his leave-taking, he was looking at the matter from the point of view of the bank. The bank preferred to detect forgeries itself--in time. As they came into the street, Mr. Carrington rubbed his hands together and said in a tone of deep satisfaction: "And now for the warrant." "Warrant for whom?" said Mr. Flexen in a tone of polite inquiry. "Manley. The sooner that young scoundrel is in gaol the better I shall feel," said Mr. Carrington. "So should I," said Mr. Flexen. "But I'm very much afraid that for Mr. Manley it's a far cry to Holloway. We have no case against him whatever--not a scrap of a case that I can see." "Hang it all! It's as plain as a pikestaff! He's engaged to this woman--this Mrs. Truslove--who has a nice little income. He hears that her income is to be halved; and we know that if an allowance begins by being halved, as likely as not it will be stopped altogether before long. He saw that clearly enough. Then in the very nick of time this cheque comes along. He sends it to the bank with this letter of instructions, and murders Lord Loudwater so that he cannot disavow them. What more of a case do you want?"