“Mr. Griffin I warned you that Prescott is a most accomplished liar.”

Instead of flaring up at this insult, Dick merely turned to exchange amused smiles with Holmes.

At this moment the attorney was paying no heed to Bert, but was placing a chair courteously for the elder Dodge.

“Now, Mr. Dodge,” began the lawyer, speaking rapidly and paying heed only to the father, “I am very glad that I insisted on seeing Mr. Prescott before going further in the case that you placed with me.  I expected only a denial.  I have, instead, been astounded.  Now, listen, sir, while I tell you the all but incredible story.”

Thereupon Lawyer Griffin launched into a swift narration of the story told by Dick Prescott and Dr. Carter.

As soon as Bert Dodge began to get wind of what it was all about, his face became ghastly.

“Stop right here, Griffin!” commanded Bert.  “This is all a tissue of lies that have been sprung upon you.”

“Silence, young man!” commanded the lawyer sternly.  “This talk is between your father and myself.  As for you, young man, remember to what you have sworn, and bear in mind that the upshot of it all for you may yet be a term of years in the penitentiary.”

As the lawyer went on talking there could not be a moment’s suspicion that the elder Dodge had been concerned in the plot of perjury.  Mr. Dodge had been guilty only of believing his son and of sharing the latter’s feigned indignation.

“Now, Dr. Carter has confirmed all of this over the ’phone, and he assured me that Dr. Davidson stood ready to add his testimony,” wound up Lawyer Griffin.  “Mr. Dodge, what is to be done?”

“Why,” stammered Bert’s father, “we—–­we shall have to drop the whole case.”

“What?” raged Bert, his face going purple with anger.  “Drop the case on any such stacked-up mess of lies?  Father, are you losing all the nerve you ever had?”

“Young man,” broke in Lawyer Griffin severely, “you do not appear to have the slightest idea of values.  I do not for a moment imagine that your father will go any further in this matter.  If he does, it will be necessary for him to get another attorney.”

“Why!” challenged Bert, glaring at the lawyer.

“Because the outcome of this case, if it reached court, would be your indictment for conspiracy and the subornation of perjury.  The latter is one of the most heinous crimes known to the law.”

“But I tell you this is all a tissue of lies trumped up against me!” stormed young Dodge.

While this conversation was going on Dick and Greg remained silent in their seats.  They had no need to talk.  They were enjoying it all too much just as it was going.

“Do you expect, Dodge, that a court and a jury would take your unsupported word against the testimony of two such men as Dr. Carter and the Rev. Mr. Davidson?  Do you imagine, for a moment, that Fessenden and your other tools wouldn’t become utterly frightened and confess to everything against you?  Do you imagine that anything you could do or say would save you, Dodge, from going to the penitentiary for ten or fifteen years?”