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.