"Another hallucination, I suppose, or an accidental resemblance. Well, if you will leave a specimen of your own caligraphy with us, we can compare them," said Bryant.
"And I suppose, sir, you will have the body exhumed, for the purpose of discovering who the man really was?"
"I suppose so," replied the Inspector a little unwillingly. "Although I don't expect we shall ever find out. Nobody came forward at the time when your sister made that mistake. Is it likely anybody will come forward now? Some poor derelict, weary of life I suppose, without kith or kin to claim him at the end. There are scores of suicides in the year, Mr. Davis, who are buried unidentified."
He added, after a moment's pause: "Of course, before taking any such steps, we must formally prove, from unimpeachable testimony, that not only are you Reginald Davis, but the particular Reginald Davis who was falsely accused of murder."
"I quite understand," answered Davis a little stiffly. "Before I leave this room, I will indicate the quarters where you can obtain the information you want."
"Then, when I have verified that, I will ask you to come and see me again." Bryant's manner as he said these words, indicated that the interview was at an end.
But Davis kept his seat, he had not finished yet.
"May I take the liberty of detaining you for a few moments longer, sir, to impress upon you the importance of having that body exhumed? You may be correct in your theory it is that of some poor derelict, but I have a different theory altogether."
The Inspector looked sharply at him, and drew a deep breath. "Ah, then, you have some knowledge of something: your visit to me has been leading up to this, eh?"
"No actual knowledge, sir, but a surmise that has, I venture to think, some foundation. I have two sisters. The elder one I have already spoken of to you."
There was a slight note of sarcasm in the Inspector's voice as he replied, "Yes, Mrs. Masters, whose fortunate mistake was of such excellent service to you, during the time you were waiting for the real criminal's confession." Davis did not suffer himself to resent this. Of course, a man of the world like Bryant did not believe in this camouflaged story. Mrs. Masters was a clever young woman, and had taken advantage of an accidental resemblance to get her brother out of jeopardy.