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 explained. “They ’re strong enough to release the little unconscious movements of the body that indicate when a man ’s lying. I use them on suspects. Tell me: Are your relations with your brother-in-law such that these letters might be coming—”

“Hardly,” Harper put in. “I ’m unwilling to think that he—”

“Would you mind telling me about him?”

“No. Certainly not. Confidentially.” He glanced at Barney.

Babbing replied, to that glance: “Perfectly trustworthy. And not as young as he looks. He got his training in the Secret Service before he came to me. His father was a government operative. Used to put him through transoms to open doors—and to shadow persons who would ’ve suspected any one older.”

He invented it with such easy conviction that Barney almost believed it himself.

“Well,” Harper said, “I met Van Amberg first at college. We were. . . very chummy