I assured him that it was. The boy's face was drawn and haggard; there
was terrible suffering in his eyes, yet about him hung, like a halo, the
glory of a great resolution.
"May I present my father?" he said. "General Fraser-Freer, retired. We
have come on a matter of supreme importance--"
The old man muttered something I could not catch. I could see that
he had been hard hit by the loss of his elder son. I asked them to be
seated; the general complied, but the boy walked the floor in a manner
most distressing.
"I shall not be long," he remarked. "Nor at a time like this is one in
the mood to be diplomatic. I will only say, sir, that we have come to
ask of you a great--a very great favor indeed. You may not see fit to
grant it. If that is the case we can not well reproach you. But if you
can--"
"It is a great favor, sir!" broke in the general. "And I am in the odd
position where I do not know whether you will serve me best by granting
it or by refusing to do so."
"Father--please--if you don't mind--" The boy's voice was kindly but
determined. He turned to me.
"Sir--you have testified to the police that it was a bit past seven when
you heard in the room above the sounds of the struggle which--which--You
understand."
In view of the mission of the caller who had departed a scant hour
previously, the boy's question startled me.
"Such was my testimony," I answered. "It was the truth."
"Naturally," said Lieutenant Fraser-Freer. "But--er--as a matter of
fact, we are here to ask that you alter your testimony. Could you, as a
favor to us who have suffered so cruel a loss--a favor we should never
forget--could you not make the hour of that struggle half after six?"
I was quite overwhelmed.
"Your--reasons?" I managed at last to ask.
"I am not able to give them to you in full," the boy answered. "I can
only say this: It happens that at seven o'clock last Thursday night I
was dining with friends at the Savoy--friends who would not be likely to
forget the occasion."
The old general leaped to his feet.
"Norman," he cried, "I can not let you do this thing! I simply will
not--"
"Hush, father," said the boy wearily. "We have threshed it all out. You
have promised--"