“He is,” said Nick.

“Then I see the bearing of my story upon the case; but I assure you that that bag did not contain Patrick Deever’s body.  It was too light.”

Prescott spoke with decision.  Out of the corner of his eyes Nick could see Chick struggling with this phase of the evidence.  Chick was too good a detective not to know that one little fact of that kind is worth a hundred that lie too near the surface.

“You can do me only one more favor,” said Nick, addressing Prescott and Miss Allen.  “Do not under any circumstances mention what you have seen without my permission.”

“You can trust us for that,” said Prescott, with a smile, “we are by no means anxious to have our connection with this affair made public.”

The two witnesses withdrew, leaving Nick and Chick together.  They were silent for several minutes, and then Nick said: 

“Well, Chick, the chain is complete.”

“It is,” was Chick’s reply, “and in all my experience I have never seen a plainer case made out against any man.”

“You mean from a jury’s point of view.”

“Certainly.”

“What do you think of it?”

“I wish you’d tell me just what you think of it, Nick.”

“I guess we shouldn’t be found to differ a great deal,” said Nick, with a smile.  “This is my view—­but hold on.  Here comes Deever.”

Indeed Deever was at that moment entering the house.

He was accompanied by a young man of a very unpleasant appearance.  To Nick’s eyes he seemed a born thief.

“Well,” said Deever, entering the room, “here we are.”

“You mean that the case is complete,” said Nick.

“Absolutely.”

“This witness whom you have brought supplies the link that was wanting?”

“He does.”

“I shall be glad to hear his story.”

“His name,” said Deever, “is John Flint.”

“Where are you employed, Mr. Flint?” asked Nick.

“I ain’t doing nothing just now,” said Flint.

“What do you know about the disappearance of Mr. Deever’s brother?”

“I don’t know anything about it, but I saw something Monday night which Mr. Deever wants me to swear to.”

“And you are willing?”

“Yes, I am willing; but I don’t want to get into court if I can help it.”

“I told him,” explained Deever, “that we would try to keep him out of court.  He thinks it might lose him a job he wants to get.  There’s evidence enough without his, the Lord knows.”

“I will hear you now,” said Nick.

“The way of it was this,” said Flint.  “Monday night, about midnight, I was down in the vacant lot of St. Agnes’ Hospital.  I was just looking for a fellow I heard had gone down that way.”

“That was Klein,” said Deever.

“I walked up the street, and had just turned the corner of the wall when I saw a man coming up under the trees.  He was carrying a big bag.