第18章

FROMMR。MATTHEWSHARPINTOCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE。

London，6thJuly，18——。

SIR——Youareratheranelderlyperson，andassuch，naturallyinclinedtobealittlejealousofmenlikeme，whoareintheprimeoftheirlivesandtheirfaculties。Underthesecircumstances，itismydutytobeconsideratetowardyou，andnottobeartoohardlyonyoursmallfailings。I

decline，therefore，altogethertotakeoffenseatthetoneofyourletter；Igiveyouthefullbenefitofthenaturalgenerosityofmynature；Ispongetheveryexistenceofyoursurlycommunicationoutofmymemory——inshort，ChiefInspectorTheakstone，Iforgiveyou，andproceedtobusiness。

MyfirstdutyistodrawupafullstatementoftheinstructionsIhavereceivedfromSergeantBulmer。Heretheyareatyourservice，accordingtomyversionofthem。

AtNumberThirteenRutherfordStreet，Soho，thereisastationer’sshop。ItiskeptbyoneMr。Yatman。Heisamarriedman，buthasnofamily。BesidesMr。andMrs。Yatman，theotherinmatesinthehousearealodger，ayoungsinglemannamedJay，whooccupiesthefrontroomonthesecondfloor——ashopman，whosleepsinoneoftheattics，andaservant—of—all—work，whosebedisinthebackkitchen。Onceaweekacharwomancomestohelpthisservant。Theseareallthepersonswho，onordinaryoccasions，havemeansofaccesstotheinteriorofthehouse，placed，asamatterofcourse，attheirdisposal。Mr。Yatmanhasbeeninbusinessformanyyears，carryingonhisaffairsprosperouslyenoughtorealizeahandsomeindependenceforapersoninhisposition。Unfortunatelyforhimself，heendeavoredtoincreasetheamountofhispropertybyspeculating。Heventuredboldlyinhisinvestments；luckwentagainsthim；andratherlessthantwoyearsagohefoundhimselfapoormanagain。

Allthatwassavedoutofthewreckofhispropertywasthesumoftwohundredpounds。

AlthoughMr。Yatmandidhisbesttomeethisalteredcircumstances，bygivingupmanyoftheluxuriesandcomfortstowhichheandhiswifehadbeenaccustomed，hefounditimpossibletoretrenchsofarastoallowofputtingbyanymoneyfromtheincomeproducedbyhisshop。Thebusinesshasbeendecliningoflateyears，thecheapadvertisingstationershavingdoneitinjurywiththepublic。Consequently，uptothelastweek，theonlysurpluspropertypossessedbyMr。Yatmanconsistedofthetwohundredpoundswhichhadbeenrecoveredfromthewreckofhisfortune。Thissumwasplacedasadepositinajoint—stockbankofthehighestpossiblecharacter。

EightdaysagoMr。Yatmanandhislodger，Mr。Jay，heldaconversationonthesubjectofthecommercialdifficultieswhicharehamperingtradeinalldirectionsatthepresenttime。Mr。

Jay（wholivesbysupplyingthenewspaperswithshortparagraphsrelatingtoaccidents，offenses，andbriefrecordsofremarkableoccurrencesingeneral——whois，inshort，whattheycallapenny—a—liner）toldhislandlordthathehadbeeninthecitythatdayandheardunfavorablerumorsonthesubjectofthejoint—stockbanks。TherumorstowhichhealludedhadalreadyreachedtheearsofMr。Yatmanfromotherquarters，andtheconfirmationofthembyhislodgerhadsuchaneffectonhismind——predisposedasitwastoalarmbytheexperienceofhisformerlosses——thatheresolvedtogoatoncetothebankandwithdrawhisdeposit。Itwasthengettingontowardtheendoftheafternoon，andhearrivedjustintimetoreceivehismoneybeforethebankclosed。

Hereceivedthedepositinbank—notesofthefollowingamounts：

onefifty—poundnote，threetwenty—poundnotes，sixten—poundnotes，andsixfive—poundnotes。Hisobjectindrawingthemoneyinthisformwastohaveitreadytolayoutimmediatelyintriflingloans，ongoodsecurity，amongthesmalltradespeopleofhisdistrict，someofwhomaresorelypressedfortheverymeansofexistenceatthepresenttime。InvestmentsofthiskindseemedtoMr。Yatmantobethemostsafeandthemostprofitableonwhichhecouldnowventure。

Hebroughtthemoneybackinanenvelopeplacedinhisbreastpocket，andaskedhisshopman，ongettinghome，tolookforasmall，flat，tincash—box，whichhadnotbeenusedforyears，andwhich，asMr。Yatmanrememberedit，wasexactlyoftherightsizetoholdthebank—notes。Forsometimethecash—boxwassearchedforinvain。Mr。Yatmancalledtohiswifetoknowifshehadanyideawhereitwas。Thequestionwasoverheardbytheservant—of—all—work，whowastakingupthetea—trayatthetime，andbyMr。Jay，whowascomingdownstairsonhiswayouttothetheater。Ultimatelythecash—boxwasfoundbytheshopman。Mr。

Yatmanplacedthebank—notesinit，securedthembyapadlock，andputtheboxinhiscoatpocket。Itstuckoutofthecoatpocketaverylittle，butenoughtobeseen。Mr。Yatmanremainedathome，upstairs，allthatevening。Novisitorscalled。Ateleveno’clockhewenttobed，andputthecash—boxunderhispillow。

Whenheandhiswifewokethenextmorningtheboxwasgone。

PaymentofthenoteswasimmediatelystoppedattheBankofEngland，butnonewsofthemoneyhasbeenheardofsincethattime。

Sofarthecircumstancesofthecaseareperfectlyclear。Theypointunmistakablytotheconclusionthattherobberymusthavebeencommittedbysomepersonlivinginthehouse。Suspicionfalls，therefore，upontheservant—of—all—work，upontheshopman，anduponMr。Jay。Thetwofirstknewthatthecash—boxwasbeinginquiredforbytheirmaster，butdidnotknowwhatitwashewantedtoputintoit。Theywouldassume，ofcourse，thatitwasmoney。Theybothhadopportunities（theservantwhenshetookawaythetea，andtheshopmanwhenhecame，aftershuttingup，togivethekeysofthetilltohismaster）ofseeingthecash—boxinMr。Yatman’spocket，andofinferringnaturally，fromitspositionthere，thatheintendedtotakeitintohisbedroomwithhimatnight。

Mr。Jay，ontheotherhand，hadbeentold，duringtheafternoon’sconversationonthesubjectofjoint—stockbanks，thathislandlordhadadepositoftwohundredpoundsinoneofthem。HealsoknewthatMr。Yatmanlefthimwiththeintentionofdrawingthatmoneyout；andheheardtheinquiryforthecash—boxafterward，whenhewascomingdownstairs。Hemust，therefore，haveinferredthatthemoneywasinthehouse，andthatthecash—boxwasthereceptacleintendedtocontainit。Thathecouldhavehadanyidea，however，oftheplaceinwhichMr。Yatmanintendedtokeepitforthenightisimpossible，seeingthathewentoutbeforetheboxwasfound，anddidnotreturntillhislandlordwasinbed。Consequently，ifhecommittedtherobbery，hemusthavegoneintothebedroompurelyonspeculation。

Speakingofthebedroomremindsmeofthenecessityofnoticingthesituationofitinthehouse，andthemeansthatexistofgainingeasyaccesstoitatanyhourofthenight。

Theroominquestionisthebackroomonthefirstfloor。InconsequenceofMrs。Yatman’sconstitutionalnervousnessonthesubjectoffire，whichmakesherapprehendbeingburnedaliveinherroom，incaseofaccident，bythehamperingofthelockifthekeyisturnedinit，herhusbandhasneverbeenaccustomedtolockthebedroomdoor。Bothheandhiswifeare，bytheirownadmission，heavysleepers；consequently，therisktoberunbyanyevil—disposedpersonswishingtoplunderthebedroomwasofthemosttriflingkind。Theycouldentertheroombymerelyturningthehandleofthedoor；and，iftheymovedwithordinarycaution，therewasnofearoftheirwakingthesleepersinside。

Thisfactisofimportance。Itstrengthensourconvictionthatthemoneymusthavebeentakenbyoneoftheinmatesofthehouse，becauseittendstoshowthattherobbery，inthiscase，mighthavebeencommittedbypersonsnotpossessedofthesuperiorvigilanceandcunningoftheexperiencedthief。

Sucharethecircumstances，astheywererelatedtoSergeantBulmer，whenhewasfirstcalledintodiscovertheguiltyparties，and，ifpossible，torecoverthelostbank—notes。Thestrictestinquirywhichhecouldinstitutefailedofproducingthesmallestfragmentofevidenceagainstanyofthepersonsonwhomsuspicionnaturallyfell。Theirlanguageandbehavioronbeinginformedoftherobberywasperfectlyconsistentwiththelanguageandbehaviorofinnocentpeople。SergeantBulmerfeltfromthefirstthatthiswasacaseforprivateinquiryandsecretobservation。HebeganbyrecommendingMr。andMrs。Yatmantoaffectafeelingofperfectconfidenceintheinnocenceofthepersonslivingundertheirroof，andhethenopenedthecampaignbyemployinghimselfinfollowingthegoingsandcomings，andindiscoveringthefriends，thehabits，andthesecretsofthemaid—of—all—work。

Threedaysandnightsofexertiononhisownpart，andonthatofotherswhowerecompetenttoassisthisinvestigations，wereenoughtosatisfyhimthattherewasnosoundcauseforsuspicionagainstthegirl。

Henextpracticedthesameprecautioninrelationtotheshopman。

Therewasmoredifficultyanduncertaintyinprivatelyclearingupthisperson’scharacterwithouthisknowledge，buttheobstacleswereatlastsmoothedawaywithtolerablesuccess；and，thoughthereisnotthesameamountofcertaintyinthiscasewhichtherewasinthecaseofthegirl，thereisstillfairreasonforsupposingthattheshopmanhashadnothingtodowiththerobberyofthecash—box。

Asanecessaryconsequenceoftheseproceedings，therangeofsuspicionnowbecomeslimitedtothelodger，Mr。Jay。

WhenIpresentedyourletterofintroductiontoSergeantBulmer，hehadalreadymadesomeinquiriesonthesubjectofthisyoungman。Theresult，sofar，hasnotbeenatallfavorable。Mr。Jay’shabitsareirregular；hefrequentspublichouses，andseemstobefamiliarlyacquaintedwithagreatmanydissolutecharacters；heisindebttomostofthetradespeoplewhomheemploys；hehasnotpaidhisrenttoMr。Yatmanforthelastmonth；yesterdayeveninghecamehomeexcitedbyliquor，andlastweekhewasseentalkingtoaprize—fighter；inshort，thoughMr。Jaydoescallhimselfajournalist，invirtueofhispenny—a—linecontributionstothenewspapers，heisayoungmanoflowtastes，vulgarmanners，andbadhabits。Nothinghasyetbeendiscoveredinrelationtohimwhichredoundstohiscreditinthesmallestdegree。

Ihavenowreported，downtotheverylastdetails，alltheparticularscommunicatedtomebySergeantBulmer。Ibelieveyouwillnotfindanomissionanywhere；andIthinkyouwilladmit，thoughyouareprejudicedagainstme，thataclearerstatementoffactswasneverlaidbeforeyouthanthestatementIhavenowmade。MynextdutyistotellyouwhatIproposetodonowthatthecaseisconfidedtomyhands。

Inthefirstplace，itisclearlymybusinesstotakeupthecaseatthepointwhereSergeantBulmerhasleftit。Onhisauthority，IamjustifiedinassumingthatIhavenoneedtotroublemyselfaboutthemaid—of—all—workandtheshopman。Theircharactersarenowtobeconsideredasclearedup。WhatremainstobeprivatelyinvestigatedisthequestionoftheguiltorinnocenceofMr。

Jay。Beforewegiveupthenotesforlost，wemustmakesure，ifwecan，thatheknowsnothingaboutthem。

ThisistheplanthatIhaveadopted，withthefullapprovalofMr。andMrs。Yatman，fordiscoveringwhetherMr。Jayisorisnotthepersonwhohasstolenthecash—box：

Iproposeto—daytopresentmyselfatthehouseinthecharacterofayoungmanwhoislookingforlodgings。Thebackroomonthesecondfloorwillbeshowntomeastheroomtolet，andIshallestablishmyselfthereto—nightasapersonfromthecountrywhohascometoLondontolookforasituationinarespectableshoporoffice。

BythismeansIshallbelivingnexttotheroomoccupiedbyMr。

Jay。Thepartitionbetweenusismerelathandplaster。Ishallmakeasmallholeinit，nearthecornice，throughwhichIcanseewhatMr。Jaydoesinhisroom，andheareverywordthatissaidwhenanyfriendhappenstocallonhim。Wheneverheisathome，Ishallbeatmypostofobservation；wheneverhegoesout，Ishallbeafterhim。Byemployingthesemeansofwatchinghim，I

believeImaylookforwardtothediscoveryofhissecret——ifheknowsanythingaboutthelostbank—notes——astoadeadcertainty。

WhatyoumaythinkofmyplanofobservationIcannotundertaketosay。Itappearstometounitetheinvaluablemeritsofboldnessandsimplicity。Fortifiedbythisconviction，Iclosethepresentcommunicationwithfeelingsofthemostsanguinedescriptioninregardtothefuture，andremainyourobedientservant，MATTHEWSHARPIN。

FROMTHESAMETOTHESAME。

7thJuly。

SIR——Asyouhavenothonoredmewithanyanswertomylastcommunication，Iassumethat，inspiteofyourprejudicesagainstme，ithasproducedthefavorableimpressiononyourmindwhichI

venturedtoanticipate。Gratifiedandencouragedbeyondmeasurebythetokenofapprovalwhichyoureloquentsilenceconveystome，Iproceedtoreporttheprogressthathasbeenmadeinthecourseofthelasttwenty—fourhours。

IamnowcomfortablyestablishednextdoortoMr。Jay，andIamdelightedtosaythatIhavetwoholesinthepartitioninsteadofone。Mynaturalsenseofhumorhasledmeintothepardonableextravaganceofgivingthembothappropriatenames。OneIcallmypeep—hole，andtheothermypipe—hole。Thenameofthefirstexplainsitself；thenameofthesecondreferstoasmalltinpipeortubeinsertedinthehole，andtwistedsothatthemouthofitcomesclosetomyearwhileIamstandingatmypostofobservation。Thus，whileIamlookingatMr。Jaythroughmypeep—hole，Icanheareverywordthatmaybespokeninhisroomthroughmypipe—hole。

Perfectcandor——avirtuewhichIhavepossessedfrommychildhood——compelsmetoacknowledge，beforeIgoanyfurther，thattheingeniousnotionofaddingapipe—holetomyproposedpeep—holeoriginatedwithMrs。Yatman。Thislady——amostintelligentandaccomplishedperson，simple，andyetdistinguishedinhermanners，hasenteredintoallmylittleplanswithanenthusiasmandintelligencewhichIcannottoohighlypraise。Mr。Yatmanissocastdownbyhislossthatheisquiteincapableofaffordingmeanyassistance。Mrs。Yatman，whoisevidentlymosttenderlyattachedtohim，feelsherhusband’ssadconditionofmindevenmoreacutelythanshefeelsthelossofthemoney，andismainlystimulatedtoexertionbyherdesiretoassistinraisinghimfromthemiserablestateofprostrationintowhichhehasnowfallen。

"Themoney，Mr。Sharpin，"shesaidtomeyesterdayevening，withtearsinhereyes，"themoneymayberegainedbyrigideconomyandstrictattentiontobusiness。Itismyhusband’swretchedstateofmindthatmakesmesoanxiousforthediscoveryofthethief。Imaybewrong，butIfelthopefulofsuccessassoonasyouenteredthehouse；andIbelievethat，ifthewretchwhorobbedusistobefound，youarethemantodiscoverhim。"I

acceptedthisgratifyingcomplimentinthespiritinwhichitwasoffered，firmlybelievingthatIshallbefound，soonerorlater，tohavethoroughlydeservedit。

Letmenowreturntobusiness——thatistosay，tomypeep—holeandmypipe—hole。

IhaveenjoyedsomehoursofcalmobservationofMr。Jay。Thoughrarelyathome，asIunderstandfromMrs。Yatman，onordinaryoccasions，hehasbeenindoorsthewholeofthisday。Thatissuspicious，tobeginwith。Ihavetoreport，further，thatheroseatalatehourthismorning（alwaysabadsigninayoungman），andthathelostagreatdealoftime，afterhewasup，inyawningandcomplainingtohimselfofheadache。Likeotherdebauchedcharacters，heatelittleornothingforbreakfast。Hisnextproceedingwastosmokeapipe——adirtyclaypipe，whichagentlemanwouldhavebeenashamedtoputbetweenhislips。Whenhehaddonesmokinghetookoutpen，inkandpaper，andsatdowntowritewithagroan——whetherofremorseforhavingtakenthebank—notes，orofdisgustatthetaskbeforehim，Iamunabletosay。Afterwritingafewlines（toofarawayfrommypeep—holetogivemeachanceofreadingoverhisshoulder），heleanedbackinhischair，andamusedhimselfbyhummingthetunesofpopularsongs。Irecognized"MyMaryAnne，""Bobbin’Around，"and"OldDogTray，"amongothermelodies。Whetherthesedoordonotrepresentsecretsignalsbywhichhecommunicateswithhisaccomplicesremainstobeseen。Afterhehadamusedhimselfforsometimebyhumming，hegotupandbegantowalkabouttheroom，occasionallystoppingtoaddasentencetothepaperonhisdesk。Beforelonghewenttoalockedcupboardandopenedit。Istrainedmyeyeseagerly，inexpectationofmakingadiscovery。Isawhimtakesomethingcarefullyoutofthecupboard——heturnedround——anditwasonlyapintbottleofbrandy！Havingdrunksomeoftheliquor，thisextremelyindolentreprobatelaydownonhisbedagain，andinfiveminuteswasfastasleep。

Afterhearinghimsnoringforatleasttwohours，Iwasrecalledtomypeep—holebyaknockathisdoor。Hejumpedupandopeneditwithsuspiciousactivity。

Averysmallboy，withaverydirtyface，walkedin，said：

"Please，sir，they’rewaitingforyou，"satdownonachairwithhislegsalongwayfromtheground，andinstantlyfellasleep！

Mr。Jaysworeanoath，tiedawettowelroundhishead，and，goingbacktohispaper，begantocoveritwithwritingasfastashisfingerscouldmovethepen。Occasionallygettinguptodipthetowelinwaterandtieitonagain，hecontinuedatthisemploymentfornearlythreehours；thenfoldeduptheleavesofwriting，woketheboy，andgavethemtohim，withthisremarkableexpression："Now，then，youngsleepy—head，quickmarch！Ifyouseethegovernor，tellhimtohavethemoneyreadyformewhenI

callforit。"Theboygrinnedanddisappeared。Iwassorelytemptedtofollow"sleepy—head，"but，onreflection，considereditsafeststilltokeepmyeyeontheproceedingsofMr。Jay。

Inhalfanhour’stimeheputonhishatandwalkedout。OfcourseIputonmyhatandwalkedoutalso。AsIwentdownstairsIpassedMrs。Yatmangoingup。Theladyhasbeenkindenoughtoundertake，bypreviousarrangementbetweenus，tosearchMr。

Jay’sroomwhileheisoutoftheway，andwhileIamnecessarilyengagedinthepleasingdutyoffollowinghimwhereverhegoes。

OntheoccasiontowhichInowrefer，hewalkedstraighttothenearesttavernandorderedacoupleofmutton—chopsforhisdinner。Iplacedmyselfinthenextboxtohim，andorderedacoupleofmutton—chopsformydinner。BeforeIhadbeenintheroomaminute，ayoungmanofhighlysuspiciousmannersandappearance，sittingatatableopposite，tookhisglassofporterinhishandandjoinedMr。Jay。Ipretendedtobereadingthenewspaper，andlistened，asindutybound，withallmymight。

"Jackhasbeenhereinquiringafteryou，"saystheyoungman。

"Didheleaveanymessage？"asksMr。Jay。

"Yes，"saystheother。"Hetoldme，ifImetwithyou，tosaythathewishedveryparticularlytoseeyouto—night，andthathewouldgiveyoualookinatRutherfordStreetatseveno’clock。"

"Allright，"saysMr。Jay。"I’llgetbackintimetoseehim。"

Uponthis，thesuspicious—lookingyoungmanfinishedhisporter，andsayingthathewasratherinahurry，tookleaveofhisfriend（perhapsIshouldnotbewrongifIsaidhisaccomplice？），andlefttheroom。

Attwenty—fiveminutesandahalfpastsix——intheseseriouscasesitisimportanttobeparticularabouttime——Mr。Jayfinishedhischopsandpaidhisbill。Attwenty—sixminutesandthree—quartersIfinishedmychopsandpaidmine。IntenminutesmoreIwasinsidethehouseinRutherfordStreet，andwasreceivedbyMrs。Yatmaninthepassage。Thatcharmingwoman’sfaceexhibitedanexpressionofmelancholyanddisappointmentwhichitquitegrievedmetosee。

"Iamafraid，ma’am，"saysI，"thatyouhavenothitonanylittlecriminatingdiscoveryinthelodger’sroom？"

Sheshookherheadandsighed。Itwasasoft，languid，flutteringsigh——and，uponmylife，itquiteupsetme。ForthemomentI

forgotbusiness，andburnedwithenvyofMr。Yatman。

"Don’tdespair，ma’am，"Isaid，withaninsinuatingmildnesswhichseemedtotouchher。"Ihaveheardamysteriousconversation——Iknowofaguiltyappointment——andIexpectgreatthingsfrommypeep—holeandmypipe—holeto—night。Praydon’tbealarmed，butIthinkweareonthebrinkofadiscovery。"

Heremyenthusiasticdevotiontobusinessgotthebetterpartofmytenderfeelings。Ilooked——winked——nodded——lefther。

WhenIgotbacktomyobservatory，IfoundMr。Jaydigestinghismutton—chopsinanarmchair，withhispipeinhismouth。Onhistableweretwotumblers，ajugofwater，andthepintbottleofbrandy。Itwasthencloseuponseveno’clock。Asthehourstruckthepersondescribedas"Jack"walkedin。

Helookedagitated——Iamhappytosayhelookedviolentlyagitated。Thecheerfulglowofanticipatedsuccessdiffuseditself（touseastrongexpression）alloverme，fromheadtofoot。WithbreathlessinterestIlookedthroughmypeep—hole，andsawthevisitor——the"Jack"ofthisdelightfulcase——sitdown，facingme，attheoppositesideofthetabletoMr。Jay。Makingallowanceforthedifferenceinexpressionwhichtheircountenancesjustnowhappenedtoexhibit，thesetwoabandonedvillainsweresomuchalikeinotherrespectsastoleadatoncetotheconclusionthattheywerebrothers。Jackwasthecleanermanandthebetterdressedofthetwo。Iadmitthat，attheoutset。Itis，perhaps，oneofmyfailingstopushjusticeandimpartialitytotheirutmostlimits。IamnoPharisee；andwhereVicehasitsredeemingpoint，Isay，letVicehaveitsdue——yes，yes，byallmannerofmeans，letVicehaveitsdue。

"What’sthematternow，Jack？"saysMr。Jay。

"Can’tyouseeitinmyface？"saysJack。"Mydearfellow，delaysaredangerous。Letushavedonewithsuspense，andriskit，thedayafterto—morrow。"

"Sosoonasthat？"criesMr。Jay，lookingverymuchastonished。

"Well，I’mready，ifyouare。But，Isay，Jack，issomebodyelseready，too？Areyouquitesureofthat？"

Hesmiledashespoke——afrightfulsmile——andlaidaverystrongemphasisonthosetwowords，"Somebodyelse。"Thereisevidentlyathirdruffian，anamelessdesperado，concernedinthebusiness。

"Meetusto—morrow，"saysJack，"andjudgeforyourself。BeintheRegent’sParkateleveninthemorning，andlookoutforusattheturningthatleadstotheAvenueRoad。"

"I’llbethere，"saysMr。Jay。"Haveadropofbrandy—and—water？

Whatareyougettingupfor？You’renotgoingalready？"

"Yes，Iam，"saysJack。"Thefactis，I’msoexcitedandagitatedthatIcan’tsitstillanywhereforfiveminutestogether。

Ridiculousasitmayappeartoyou，I’minaperpetualstateofnervousflutter。Ican’t，forthelifeofme，helpfearingthatweshallbefoundout。Ifancythateverymanwholookstwiceatmeinthestreetisaspy——"

AtthesewordsIthoughtmylegswouldhavegivenwayunderme。

Nothingbutstrengthofmindkeptmeatmypeep—hole——nothingelse，Igiveyoumywordofhonor。

"Stuffandnonsense！"criesMr。Jay，withalltheeffronteryofaveteranincrime。"Wehavekeptthesecretuptothistime，andwewillmanagecleverlytotheend。Haveadropofbrandy—and—water，andyouwillfeelascertainaboutitasIdo。"

Jacksteadilyrefusedthebrandy—and—water，andsteadilypersistedintakinghisleave。

"ImusttryifIcan’twalkitoff，"hesaid。"Rememberto—morrowmorning——eleveno’clock，AvenueRoad，sideoftheRegent’sPark。"

Withthosewordshewentout。Hishardenedrelativelaugheddesperatelyandresumedthedirtyclaypipe。

Isatdownonthesideofmybed，actuallyquiveringwithexcitement。

Itiscleartomethatnoattempthasyetbeenmadetochangethestolenbank—notes，andImayaddthatSergeantBulmerwasofthatopinionalsowhenheleftthecaseinmyhands。WhatisthenaturalconclusiontodrawfromtheconversationwhichIhavejustsetdown？Evidentlythattheconfederatesmeetto—morrowtotaketheirrespectivesharesinthestolenmoney，andtodecideonthesafestmeansofgettingthenoteschangedthedayafter。

Mr。Jayis，beyondadoubt，theleadingcriminalinthisbusiness，andhewillprobablyrunthechiefrisk——thatofchangingthefifty—poundnote。Ishall，therefore，stillmakeitmybusinesstofollowhim——attendingattheRegent’sParkto—morrow，anddoingmybesttohearwhatissaidthere。Ifanotherappointmentismadeforthedayafter，Ishall，ofcourse，gotoit。Inthemeantime，Ishallwanttheimmediateassistanceoftwocompetentpersons（supposingtherascalsseparateaftertheirmeeting）tofollowthetwominorcriminals。

Itisonlyfairtoaddthat，iftheroguesallretiretogether，I

shallprobablykeepmysubordinatesinreserve。Beingnaturallyambitious，Idesire，ifpossible，tohavethewholecreditofdiscoveringthisrobberytomyself。

8thJuly。