"Hang him anyway, White Knight or no White Knight. That's what I say, my friends. At any rate we shall be safe." As usual Szamuelly voted for death, and doubtless the others would have agreed--for another life more or less made no difference--but the foxy Korvin-Klein thought differently. "Wait a minute, comrades. Listen to what I have to say. Let us assume for the minute that a mistake has been made, that the man there," and he jerked his thumb in the direction of the prisoner, "is not the White Knight. What does that mean? One of two things. Either we have been hoaxed--in which case, hang the man--or else last night the White Knight discovered that, in some way, this woman was betraying him, and knowing of the trap he really did persuade this man to take his place. "As I have already said, if it can be proved that the first supposition is correct--well, I suggest a little better than hanging. But I ask you, friends, would any sane man deliberately put himself into our hands for the sake of hoaxing us? "Again, in the second case, the prisoner might as well die. Now suppose it were all a genuine mistake on the part of the White Knight--after all, I dare say he likes a woman as much as the rest of us--do you not think it possible that he may try and meet this man to discover how he got on with the White Knight's lady-love? "Let him free, if it be proved that he is innocent. Then let me set a detective to track him. Sooner or later he may meet the White Knight. Then we shall know what to do." The point of the chief detective's arguments was too forceful not to impress even the most obtuse mind, and, after a little hesitation, that course was agreed upon by the Council. Soon afterward came Gunzi. In the meantime Korvin-Klein replaced the muffler round the prisoner's chin. Gunzi was asked whether the prisoner was the man he had arrested the night before. The detective looked surprised. "Certainly," he answered, with an assured air. "And he is the same man whom you saw drinking in the beer-tavern the night before?" Gunzi looked at him carefully. Again he answered in the affirmative, and his tone was still as confident. "Very well," said Klein, "now take off his scarf." Slowly Gunzi unwound it, and as its last fold exposed the face of its wearer the detective started back with surprise. "But--but--but----" he stammered, and stopped. "Well!" Korvin-Klein barked out the word, and Gunzi looked nervous. The detective eyed the prisoner, carefully noting every detail of the face. Then at last he turned. "Except for one thing," he said, "this man might be the White Knight. In many respects he is similar to the Enemy of the Commune, not only in build, but also in facial expression, but--he is not the same man." * * * * * *