“So your daughter really loved this man?”

“No; it was only her obstinacy.  They became acquainted in some way.  I don’t know how.  The fellow called at my house.  I made my daughter promise never to speak to him, but it was a most unpleasant affair throughout.  I thought Deever would murder me.

“It seems strange, perhaps, that I should speak of it in the midst of the terrors that surround me, and yet I can’t help thinking of the whole affair as one freak of fate.”

“And now tell me the truth about his brother and yourself,” said Nick earnestly.

“I will,” replied the doctor.

At this moment a messenger was announced.  Nick knew that the matter must be of the greatest importance, or he would not have been interrupted in his conference with his prisoner.

It proved to be a message from Superintendent Byrnes asking Nick to come to his house as soon as he could.

CHAPTER VIII.

Before the superintendent.

As Nick expected, he met Chick outside Superintendent Byrnes’s house.

“Go to Jarvis,” said Nick.  “He is going to tell the whole story.  Personate me in this disguise.”

Chick nodded and vanished.

Within the house Nick found Deever in the superintendent’s presence.  Deever’s face was red, and he looked like a man who had been kicking a stone wall until he is tired.

“Mr. Deever has lodged a complaint against you, Mr. Colton,” said the superintendent, with a twinkle in his eye.

“What’s the matter?” asked Nick.

“He says that you ought to have had this man Jarvis electrocuted by this time.”

“I have proceeded with great caution,” said Nick.

“Yes, you have,” said Deever.  “You have been very careful to shield Jarvis at every step.  He’s a rich man, Jarvis is!”

“Deever,” said the superintendent, sternly, “I have delayed answering your complaint until this time because I wished to have Mr. Colton present to hear what I said.

“And, now, what I have to say is this—­don’t you venture to hint at the shadow of a suspicion of his integrity.  I am entirely satisfied with Mr. Colton’s conduct.  I sustain him absolutely.  I have put this case in his hands, and there it stays.”

Deever quailed at these words, but his natural obstinacy came to his aid.

“I can get a warrant for Jarvis’ arrest,” he said.

“Go ahead and do it, and make a fool of yourself,” replied the superintendent.

“With your permission,” said Nick, “I advise Mr. Deever to remain here.  Meanwhile we will send a messenger for the witness, John Flint, whose testimony seems to me to be of the greatest importance.”

“Proceed just as you wish,” said Byrnes.

The messenger was summoned, and dispatched.

While they waited for him Nick reviewed in the presence of the superintendent and Deever the evidence against Jarvis.