Integrity very
doubtful. A professional ward politician."
"So," said I. "Exit the Alderman. It's a crying pity that car didn't
get in its work four months ago."
"Let us be thankful for what it did do, last week."
"One lying mouth stopped," said I.
He nodded. "And only an inferior reputation left to bolster up his
certificate."
I looked again at the copy. "I wonder if that car, by any possibility,
might have hit Witness, John Edwards, too?"
Courtney smiled. "It's dollars to nickels the same blow killed them
both."
"Then, it's my word against hers and the certificate."
"Not exactly. It's her word, her beauty and the certificate against your
word, its corroborating circumstances and her history."
"That sounds logical," said I; "and yet, in fact, if there were nothing
but her word it would still win out for Lotzen. I may not marry the
Princess so long as another woman claims to be my wife."
Courtney frowned. "But, if you prove her a liar by cold facts?"
"It will not suffice," said I. "All doubt must be removed. She must
admit her--error."
He raised his eyebrows, and out came the cigarette case.
"Then, do you appreciate that, until she does, you will have the
disagreeable duty of preventing her from departing the Capital--certainly
the Kingdom?"
"Practically that," I admitted.
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