“The principal confusion, in my own mind, was a result of the doctor’s belief in his own guilt.  That is why he bribed me, believing me to be Cleary.  By the way, here is your five thousand dollars, doctor.”

He handed the package of bills to the astonished physician, who could only gasp, “You? you?”

“Yes; I played Cleary,” said Nick.  “That affair and your attempt to elude Chick amount to no more in the case than that they indicate your own belief in your guilt.

“Now, what is against that belief?  In the first place, you would never have disposed of the body by burial.  Having that acid, unknown to chemists, in which flesh dissolves like water, you would have used it.

“Your sleep-walking adventure proved to me what you would have done under similar conditions, if awake.

“Having seen that, I had only to be present at the digging up of the body to have a fairly reliable theory of your innocence.  Why should you, possessing that acid and that furnace, mutilate a man’s face and head with a spade?  You had far better means of preventing an identification.

“But the body was buried in the garden.  The question is, by whom?  To answer that we pass on to the story of the bringing of the body through the vacant lot, and hoisting it over the wall.

“The testimony of Prescott I regard as reliable.  Chick’s investigations satisfy me as to the man’s character and motives.  Then we acquit the doctor at once.”

“This is nonsense,” cried Deever.  “I will not be silent any longer.”

“Yes, you will,” said Byrnes, in a voice that secured obedience.

“It acquits the doctor, I say,” continued Nick.  “He could never have lifted that body to the top of the wall.  There’s a physical impossibility in the way of a belief that he is guilty.

“It takes a very strong man to raise a dead body weighing one hundred and seventy-five pounds above his head in the manner described by Prescott.  We shall have to work down to that strong man before the case is proven.”

Nick looked significantly at Lawrence Deever.  That look was understood.

“You’re a liar and a scoundrel,” screamed Deever, beside himself with rage.

He sprang upon Nick.

Nobody raised a finger to interfere.

The superintendent and Chick calmly awaited the inevitable issue.  Flint dared not go to the assistance of his patron.

It was all over in a few seconds.

Deever lay upon the floor, fettered, and Nick stood over him.

“The strong man in the case has been found,” said Nick.  “I’m willing to admit that you gave me hard work, Deever.”

“So it was he that buried the body?” asked Byrnes.

“Yes; I suspected it at once,” responded Nick.  “It was his deliberate intention to throw the crime upon Dr. Jarvis.

“He stole the doctor’s cap and dressing-gown on Monday night, and then returned them when the job was done.  But they showed the signs of hard usage.