Morphine stands unequalled as a perverter
of the moral sense. It creates a person whom the father of lies
must recognise as kindred to himself. I know of a case where a
judge charged a jury that the prisoner, a morphine addict, was
mentally irresponsible for that reason. The judge knew what he
was talking about. It subsequently developed that he had been a
secret morphine fiend himself for years."
Come, come," broke in Carroll impatiently, we're wasting time. The
ship sails in an hour and unless you want to go down the bay on a
tug you've got to catch Dawson now or never. The morphine business
explains, but it does not excuse. Come on, the car is waiting. How
long do you think it will take us to get over to - "
"Police headquarters?" interrupted Craig. "About fifteen minutes.
This photograph shows, as I had hoped, the real forger. John Carroll,
this is a peculiar case. You have forged the name of the president
of your company, but you have also traced your own name very cleverly
to look like a forgery. It is what is technically known as
auto-forgery, forging one's own handwriting. At your convenience
we'll ride down to Centre Street directly."
Carroll was sputtering and almost frothing at the mouth with rage
which he made no effort to suppress.
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