After this conversation, it would not be safe to leave the negro there.  The doctor would, of course, discover that some trick had been played upon him as soon as he mentioned the events of the night to Cleary.

The results which would follow such a discovery Nick wished to avoid.

He, therefore, with great caution, accepted the proposal, and received a large sum as the first installment of the blackmail.

As to the doctor’s real intentions, Nick was in some doubt.  It seemed probable that he meant to sacrifice Cleary to secure his own safety in case it became necessary.

If Cleary ran away, it would be easy to divert suspicion to him.

The case against Dr. Jarvis looked very plain.  Innocent men do not take such desperate measures.  And yet Nick was far from reaching a definite opinion in the case.

He returned to Cleary’s room; and it required a good deal of skill to keep the doctor out of it.  If he had entered, and had seen two Cleary’s, it is hard to say what desperation would have led him to do.

For an instant Nick had an idea of letting him do it, and then attempt to secure a true statement of the case with the aid of the shock which the doctor would have sustained on discovering how he had been duped.

But second thought showed him the necessity for a different procedure.

From Cleary’s window he signaled for Chick, who was in waiting near the wall, and to him he delivered the unconscious form of the negro.

Then he returned to take his leave of the doctor—­a difficult business, which he managed with great skill.

This done, he secretly left the hospital.

What had been the true meaning of the night’s events?  It puzzled him to say.

Was the body on the slab that of Patrick Deever, or had the doctor gone through in his sleep the act which he intended to perform later with the real body?

Nick thought that the latter was more probable.  He was inclined to believe that the body of Deever might be concealed about the building.  If so, he would find it.

Reflecting thus, he passed outside the hospital walls.

Three men were approaching along St. Nicholas avenue.  Two of these he quickly recognized as Chick and Lawrence Deever.  The other was unknown to him.

Evidently Chick had sent Cleary away in a carriage which they had kept waiting near the hospital during the evening.  How he had met Deever, Nick could not guess.

He went forward to meet the three men.

He had removed the disguise in which he had deceived the doctor, and was now as Deever had seen him before.

Deever recognized him at once, and started forward, saying: 

“You ask for proof of my brother’s death.  I will give it to you.  Here is a man who saw him buried.”

And he pointed to the stranger.

CHAPTER IV.