The act might bring the noose about his neck, if he were arrested, who would believe the absurd story he had to tell.
Nickie had been careful to betray no particular interest in the great murder case in the presence of his friends in the Museum of Marvels.

He knew that the fictitious Rev.Andrew Rowbottom had been inquired for by the police as a man who might provide a clue, but the search for him had not been warmly followed up, it being assumed that he was some trumpery imposter.

In any case, his importance was forgotten in a splendid dramatic idea entertained by the detectives, inculpating a clever and notorious criminal.

The notorious criminal proved an alibi, and after being a nine days' wonder the great diamond robbery and murder case was supplanted in the public mind by an even more sensational crime.

Nickie in his terror of being associated with the murder had been careful, up to now, to betray no interest.