human
Even if things are as you say, which I don't doubt at all, said the chief, slowly,
gpt
I can't believe the boy did it! And darn it all, if I pinch him there's goin' to be a hell of a scandal!
human
Chief, you're up against facts. Those facts are bound to come out and the newspapers will nail your hide to the wall in a minute. You've a bare chance to save yourself by taking in young Maillard at once.
gpt
I don't want to save myself by putting the wrong man behind the bars, he returned.
human
It sure looks like he was the Masquer all the while, but you say that he wasn't. You say this was his only job--a joke that turned out bad.
gpt
Those are the facts, said Fell.
human
I don't want to accuse a man of crimes I know he did not commit. We have the best of evidence that he did commit this crime. If the newspapers fasten the entire Midnight Masquer business on him, as they're sure to do, we can't very well help it. I have no sympathy for the boy.
gpt
Of course he did it, put in Ben Chacherre, sleepily.
human
Wasn't he caught with the goods?