I've heard you. Now you've got to hear me. We are
up against a very marvellous performance, Mark. This case has some
of the finest features--some unique even in my experience. Though,
as history repeats itself, I dare say there have been bigger
blackguards than the great unknown--though surely not many."
"Robert Redmayne?"
Peter broke off for a brief exposition. He took snuff, shut his eyes
and began.
"Why do you harp on 'Robert Redmayne,' like a parrot, my son? Just
consider all I've said on that matter and the general subject of
forgeries for a minute. You can forge anything that man ever made,
and a good few things that God has made. You can forge a picture, a
postage stamp, a signature, a finger print; and our human minds,
accustomed to pictures, postage stamps, finger prints, are easily
deceived by appearances and seldom possess the necessary expert
knowledge to recognize a forgery when we see it. And now we are
dealing with people who have forged a human being, for that is what
the red man amounts to.
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