But he had the mind of the gamester, and the true gamester's self-control.

He had taken chances so often that the tornado of ill-luck left him standing.
"What proof have you ?" he asked quietly.

Soolsby's explicit answer left no ground for doubt.

He had not asked the question with any idea of finding gaps in the evidence, but rather to find if there were a chance for resistance, of escape, anywhere.

The marriage certificate existed; identification of James Fetherdon with his father could be established by Soolsby and Luke Claridge.
Soolsby and Luke Claridge! Luke Claridge--he could not help but smile cynically, for he was composed and calculating now.