Mr. Barker did know some one in Heidelberg—­the very man, in fact.  He would write immediately, and set the inquiry on foot.  Meanwhile there were other things to be settled.  After the first shock the lawyer was not inclined to let Barker off so easily for having indorsed a man he suspected of being a humbug.  Barker retorted that he had found Claudius in possession of the documents transmitted by Messrs. Screw and Scratch, and that it was not his fault if he supposed that those astute gentlemen had taken proper precautions to ascertain the identity of their client.  He went into many details, explaining how his suspicions had been aroused by degrees in the course of many conversations.  He was expecting a question from Mr. Screw.  At last it came.

“Mr. Barker,” said Screw, fixing his brass-headed eyes intently on his companion—­for Mr. Screw was no fool—­“Mr. Barker, you brought this man over here, and you know him better than any one else.  Now, what I want to know is this.  He may be the right man, after all.  What we are going to do is entirely precautionary.  Do you want to appear or not?” Barker had not expected the question to be put so directly, but he was perfectly prepared for it.

“I am sure I do not care,” he said, with a fine indifference.  “I have no objection.  It is a mere question of expediency; do not consider me in the matter.  Do what you think is right,” he added, emphasising the last word, and meeting Screw’s glance boldly enough.  Screw looked at him for a moment or two in silence, and then turned his eyes away.  There was the faintest reflection of a smile on his yellow face, and the expression became him well.  Screw was astute, sharp as a ferret, relentless as a steel-corkscrew, crushing its cruel way through the creaking cork; but Screw was an honest man, as the times go.  That was the difference between him and Barker.  Screw’s smile was his best expression, Barker’s smile was of the devil, and very wily.  Screw smiled because he was amused.  Barker smiled when he was successful.

“I think for the present,” said Mr. Screw, “that unless you positively wish to appear, it would be as well that you should not.  If we are mistaken, and the Doctor is really what he pretends to be, it will be very unpleasant for you afterwards to have been concerned in an inquiry into the validity of his rights.”

“Do you think so?” asked Barker, looking languidly across at Mr. Screw.  “Very well, in that case you may conduct the inquiry, and I will not appear.  I shall meet him just as if nothing had happened, and let him tell me what you have done.  Of course he will tell me, the first thing.  Besides, as you say, he may be the right man, after all.”