“That is very fair, sir,” replied Dick.

“And I want to be fair,” replied the lawyer with emphasis.  “I want to make sure that I am not taking part in a case needlessly malicious, and one which, pushed to a needless conclusion, might rob the Army of a valuable future officer.”

“I appreciate your courtesy and fairness, and I, thank you, sir,” Dick acknowledged.

“Now, Mr. Prescott, do you mind telling me, in a general way, at least, just what you have said to others about young Dodge since you have been home on your furlough?”

“I would rather, sir, tell you something else instead,” replied Cadet Prescott, with the ghost of a smile.  “You have some affidavits, Mr. Griffin—–­or, at least, you have some witnesses, and they have very likely furnished you with affidavits.  The names of your witnesses, or of your most important witnesses, are Fessenden, Bettrick and Deevers.  Fessenden was a bank clerk, discharged from the bank by the elder Dodge.  Bettrick is a truck-driver, and Deevers is—–­well, I understand he has no more important occupation than lounging about drinking places.”

“I am sorry that you know the names of my witnesses,” replied Lawyer Griffin gravely.  “I am beginning to be impressed with the idea that you know their names so readily because you recall having said something in their presence or hearing against young Dodge.”

“That is hardly likely,” replied Dick, smiling coolly, “because I do not believe that I know either of the three young men by sight.”

“Then why,” demanded the attorney, eyeing the young West Pointer keenly, “do you know so much about their occupations or lack of occupation?  And why do you know that they are all young men?”

“I will tell you,” replied Dick.  “In the first place, you know Dr. Carter, do you not?”

“Yes.”

“He is a reputable physician, isn’t he?”

“I believe Dr. Carter to be a very honorable man.”

“Do you know Dr. Davidson?”

“I understand that he is one of the new pastors in town,” admitted the lawyer.

“You imagine he would make a creditable witness, don’t you?”

“Jurors generally accept the testimony of a clergyman at its face value,” replied Attorney Griffin.

“Down in one of the tenements of Gridley,” pursued Prescott, rising and leaning one elbow upon the corner of the top of the lawyer’s roll-top desk, “is a young man named Peters.  He is a mill hand who has been away from his work for weeks on account of illness.  Dr. Carter has been attending him, probably without charging much if any fee.  Last night Peters had a small boy rush out and telephone in haste for Dr. Carter.  As it happened, the physician was at his office, and answered quickly.  After Dr. Carter had been in Peters’s room, perhaps a minute, the physician hurried out into the street, stopping the first man whom he met.  That man happened to be Dr. Davidson.  The two men returned to Peters’s room.  Now, all three of them listened.”