The Mysterious Affair

it bears a marked resemblance to your own handwriting—carelessly disguised?”

“No, I do not think so.”

“I put it to you that it is your own handwriting!”

“No.”

“I put it to you that, anxious to prove an alibi, you conceived the idea of a fictitious and rather incredible appointment, and wrote this note yourself in order to bear out your statement!”

“No.”

“Is it not a fact that, at the time you claim to have been waiting about at a solitary and unfrequented spot,


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it bears a marked resemblance to your own handwriting—carelessly disguised?”

“No, I do not think so.”

“I put it to you that it is your own handwriting!”

“No.”

“I put it to you that, anxious to prove an alibi, you conceived the idea of a fictitious and rather incredible appointment, and wrote this note yourself in order to bear out your statement!”

“No.”

“Is it not a fact that, at the time you claim to have been waiting about at a solitary and unfrequented spot,


612 of 719