第19章

Ihavetoacknowledge，withthanks，thespeedyarrivalofmytwosubordinates——menofveryaverageabilities，Iamafraid；but，fortunately，Ishallalwaysbeonthespottodirectthem。

MyfirstbusinessthismorningwasnecessarilytopreventpossiblemistakesbyaccountingtoMr。andMrs。Yatmanforthepresenceoftwostrangersonthescene。Mr。Yatman（betweenourselves，apoor，feebleman）onlyshookhisheadandgroaned。

Mrs。Yatman（thatsuperiorwoman）favoredmewithacharminglookofintelligence。

"Oh，Mr。Sharpin！"shesaid，"Iamsosorrytoseethosetwomen！

Yoursendingfortheirassistancelooksasifyouwerebeginningtobedoubtfulofsuccess。"

Iprivatelywinkedather（sheisverygoodinallowingmetodosowithouttakingoffense），andtoldher，inmyfacetiousway，thatshelaboredunderaslightmistake。

"ItisbecauseIamsureofsuccess，ma’am，thatIsendforthem。

Iamdeterminedtorecoverthemoney，notformyownsakeonly，butforMr。Yatman’ssake——andforyours。"

Ilaidaconsiderableamountofstressonthoselastthreewords。

Shesaid："Oh，Mr。Sharpin！"again，andblushedofaheavenlyred，andlookeddownatherwork。Icouldgototheworld’sendwiththatwomanifMr。Yatmanwouldonlydie。

IsentoffthetwosubordinatestowaituntilIwantedthemattheAvenueRoadgateoftheRegent’sPark。Half—an—hourafterwardIwasfollowingthesamedirectionmyselfattheheelsofMr。

Jay。

Thetwoconfederateswerepunctualtotheappointedtime。Iblushtorecordit，butitisneverthelessnecessarytostatethatthethirdrogue——thenamelessdesperadoofmyreport，or，ifyoupreferit，themysterious"somebodyelse"oftheconversationbetweenthetwobrothers——is——awoman！and，whatisworse，ayoungwoman！and，whatismorelamentablestill，anice—lookingwoman！Ihavelongresistedagrowingconvictionthat，whereverthereismischiefinthisworld，anindividualofthefairsexisinevitablycertaintobemixedupinit。Aftertheexperienceofthismorning，Icanstruggleagainstthatsadconclusionnolonger。Igiveupthesex——exceptingMrs。Yatman，Igiveupthesex。

Themannamed"Jack"offeredthewomanhisarm。Mr。Jayplacedhimselfontheothersideofher。Thethreethenwalkedawayslowlyamongthetrees。Ifollowedthematarespectfuldistance。

Mytwosubordinates，atarespectfuldistance，also，followedme。

Itwas，Ideeplyregrettosay，impossibletogetnearenoughtothemtooverheartheirconversationwithoutrunningtoogreatariskofbeingdiscovered。Icouldonlyinferfromtheirgesturesandactionsthattheywereallthreetalkingwithextraordinaryearnestnessonsomesubjectwhichdeeplyinterestedthem。Afterhavingbeenengagedinthiswayafullquarterofanhour，theysuddenlyturnedroundtoretracetheirsteps。Mypresenceofminddidnotforsakemeinthisemergency。Isignedtothetwosubordinatestowalkoncarelesslyandpassthem，whileImyselfslippeddexterouslybehindatree。Astheycamebyme，Iheard"Jack"addressthesewordstoMr。Jay：

"Letussayhalf—pasttento—morrowmorning。Andmindyoucomeinacab。Wehadbetternotrisktakingoneinthisneighborhood。"

Mr。JaymadesomebriefreplywhichIcouldnotoverhear。Theywalkedbacktotheplaceatwhichtheyhadmet，shakinghandstherewithanaudaciouscordialitywhichitquitesickenedmetosee。Theythenseparated。IfollowedMr。Jay。Mysubordinatespaidthesamedelicateattentiontotheothertwo。

InsteadoftakingmebacktoRutherfordStreet，Mr。JayledmetotheStrand。Hestoppedatadingy，disreputable—lookinghouse，which，accordingtotheinscriptionoverthedoor，wasanewspaperoffice，butwhich，inmyjudgment，hadalltheexternalappearanceofaplacedevotedtothereceptionofstolengoods。

Afterremaininginsideforafewminutes，hecameoutwhistling，withhisfingerandthumbinhiswaistcoatpocket。Somemenwouldnowhavearrestedhimonthespot。Irememberedthenecessityofcatchingthetwoconfederates，andtheimportanceofnotinterferingwiththeappointmentthathadbeenmadeforthenextmorning。Suchcoolnessasthis，undertryingcircumstances，israrelytobefound，Ishouldimagine，inayoungbeginner，whosereputationasadetectivepolicemanisstilltomake。

FromthehouseofsuspiciousappearanceMr。Jaybetookhimselftoacigar—divan，andreadthemagazinesoveracheroot。Fromthedivanhestrolledtothetavernandhadhischops。Istrolledtothetavernandhadmychops。Whenhehaddonehewentbacktohislodging。WhenIhaddoneIwentbacktomine。Hewasovercomewithdrowsinessearlyintheevening，andwenttobed。AssoonasIheardhimsnoring，Iwasovercomewithdrowsinessandwenttobedalso。

Earlyinthemorningmytwosubordinatescametomaketheirreport。

Theyhadseenthemannamed"Jack"leavethewomanatthegateofanapparentlyrespectablevillaresidencenotfarfromtheRegent’sPark。Lefttohimself，hetookaturningtotheright，whichledtoasortofsuburbanstreet，principallyinhabitedbyshopkeepers。Hestoppedattheprivatedoorofoneofthehouses，andlethimselfinwithhisownkey——lookingabouthimasheopenedthedoor，andstaringsuspiciouslyatmymenastheyloungedalongontheoppositesideoftheway。Thesewerealltheparticularswhichthesubordinateshadtocommunicate。Ikepttheminmyroomtoattendonme，ifneedful，andmountedtomypeep—holetohavealookatMr。Jay。

Hewasoccupiedindressinghimself，andwastakingextraordinarypainstodestroyalltracesofthenaturalslovenlinessofhisappearance。ThiswaspreciselywhatIexpected。AvagabondlikeMr。Jayknowstheimportanceofgivinghimselfarespectablelookwhenheisgoingtoruntheriskofchangingastolenbank—note。

Atfiveminutespastteno’clockhehadgiventhelastbrushtohisshabbyhatandthelastscouringwithbread—crumbtohisdirtygloves。Attenminutespasttenhewasinthestreet，onhiswaytothenearestcab—stand，andIandmysubordinateswerecloseonhisheels。

Hetookacabandwetookacab。IhadnotoverheardthemappointaplaceofmeetingwhenfollowingthemintheParkonthepreviousday，butIsoonfoundthatwewereproceedingintheolddirectionoftheAvenueRoadgate。ThecabinwhichMr。JaywasridingturnedintotheParkslowly。Westoppedoutside，toavoidexcitingsuspicion。Igotouttofollowthecabonfoot。JustasIdidso，Isawitstop，anddetectedthetwoconfederatesapproachingitfromamongthetrees。Theygotin，andthecabwasturnedaboutdirectly。Iranbacktomyowncabandtoldthedrivertoletthempasshim，andthentofollowasbefore。

Themanobeyedmydirections，butsoclumsilyastoexcitetheirsuspicions。Wehadbeendrivingafterthemaboutthreeminutes（returningalongtheroadbywhichwehadadvanced）whenIlookedoutofthewindowtoseehowfartheymightbeaheadofus。AsI

didthis，Isawtwohatspoppedoutofthewindowsoftheircab，andtwofaceslookingbackatme。Isankintomyplaceinacoldsweat；theexpressioniscoarse，butnootherformofwordscandescribemyconditionatthattryingmoment。

"Wearefoundout！"Isaid，faintly，tomytwosubordinates。Theystaredatmeinastonishment。Myfeelingschangedinstantlyfromthedepthofdespairtotheheightofindignation。

"Itisthecabman’sfault。Getout，oneofyou，"Isaid，withdignity——"getout，andpunchhishead。"

Insteadoffollowingmydirections（Ishouldwishthisactofdisobediencetobereportedatheadquarters）theybothlookedoutofthewindow。BeforeIcouldpullthembacktheybothsatdownagain。BeforeIcouldexpressmyjustindignation，theybothgrinned，andsaidtome："Pleasetolookout，sir！"

Ididlookout。Theircabhadstopped。

Where？

Atachurchdoor！

WhateffectthisdiscoverymighthavehadupontheordinaryrunofmenIdon’tknow。Beingofastrongreligiousturnmyself，itfilledmewithhorror。Ihaveoftenreadoftheunprincipledcunningofcriminalpersons，butIneverbeforeheardofthreethievesattemptingtodoubleontheirpursuersbyenteringachurch！Thesacrilegiousaudacityofthatproceedingis，Ishouldthink，unparalleledintheannalsofcrime。

Icheckedmygrinningsubordinatesbyafrown。Itwaseasytoseewhatwaspassingintheirsuperficialminds。IfIhadnotbeenabletolookbelowthesurface，Imight，onobservingtwonicelydressedmenandonenicelydressedwomanenterachurchbeforeeleveninthemorningonaweekday，havecometothesamehastyconclusionatwhichmyinferiorshadevidentlyarrived。Asitwas，appearanceshadnopowertoimposeon_me_。Igotout，and，followedbyoneofmymen，enteredthechurch。TheothermanI

sentroundtowatchthevestrydoor。Youmaycatchaweaselasleep，butnotyourhumbleservant，MatthewSharpin！

Westoleupthegallerystairs，divergedtotheorgan—loft，andpeeredthroughthecurtainsinfront。Theretheywere，allthree，sittinginapewbelow——yes，incredibleasitmayappear，sittinginapewbelow！

BeforeIcoulddeterminewhattodo，aclergymanmadehisappearanceinfullcanonicalsfromthevestrydoor，followedbyaclerk。Mybrainwhirledandmyeyesightgrewdim。Darkremembrancesofrobberiescommittedinvestriesfloatedthroughmymind。Itrembledfortheexcellentmaninfullcanonicals——I

eventrembledfortheclerk。

Theclergymanplacedhimselfinsidethealtarrails。Thethreedesperadoesapproachedhim。Heopenedhisbookandbegantoread。

What？youwillask。

Ianswer，withouttheslightesthesitation，thefirstlinesoftheMarriageService。

Mysubordinatehadtheaudacitytolookatme，andthentostuffhispocket—handkerchiefintohismouth。Iscornedtopayanyattentiontohim。AfterIhaddiscoveredthattheman"Jack"wasthebridegroom，andthatthemanJayactedthepartoffather，andgaveawaythebride，Ileftthechurch，followedbymymen，andjoinedtheothersubordinateoutsidethevestrydoor。Somepeopleinmypositionwouldnowhavefeltrathercrestfallen，andwouldhavebeguntothinkthattheyhadmadeaveryfoolishmistake。Notthefaintestmisgivingofanykindtroubledme。I

didnotfeelintheslightestdegreedepreciatedinmyownestimation。Andevennow，afteralapseofthreehours，mymindremains，Iamhappytosay，inthesamecalmandhopefulcondition。

AssoonasIandmysubordinateswereassembledtogetheroutsidethechurch，Iintimatedmyintentionofstillfollowingtheothercabinspiteofwhathadoccurred。Myreasonfordecidingonthiscoursewillappearpresently。Thetwosubordinatesappearedtobeastonishedatmyresolution。Oneofthemhadtheimpertinencetosaytome：

"Ifyouplease，sir，whoisitthatweareafter？Amanwhohasstolenmoney，oramanwhohasstolenawife？"

Theotherlowpersonencouragedhimbylaughing。Bothhavedeservedanofficialreprimand，andboth，Isincerelytrust，willbesuretogetit。

Whenthemarriageceremonywasover，thethreegotintotheircabandoncemoreourvehicle（neatlyhiddenroundthecornerofthechurch，sothattheycouldnotsuspectittobenearthem）

startedtofollowtheirs。

WetracedthemtotheterminusoftheSouthwesternRailway。Thenewly—marriedcoupletookticketsforRichmond，payingtheirfarewithahalfsovereign，andsodeprivingmeofthepleasureofarrestingthem，whichIshouldcertainlyhavedoneiftheyhadofferedabank—note。TheypartedfromMr。Jay，saying："Remembertheaddress——14BabylonTerrace。Youdinewithusto—morrowweek。"Mr。Jayacceptedtheinvitation，andadded，jocosely，thathewasgoinghomeatoncetogetoffhiscleanclothes，andtobecomfortableanddirtyagainfortherestoftheday。IhavetoreportthatIsawhimhomesafely，andthatheiscomfortableanddirtyagain（tousehisowndisgracefullanguage）atthepresentmoment。

Heretheaffairrests，havingbythistimereachedwhatImaycallitsfirststage。

Iknowverywellwhatpersonsofhastyjudgmentwillbeinclinedtosayofmyproceedingsthusfar。TheywillassertthatIhavebeendeceivingmyselfallthroughinthemostabsurdway；theywilldeclarethatthesuspiciousconversationswhichIhavereportedreferredsolelytothedifficultiesanddangersofsuccessfullycarryingoutarunawaymatch；andtheywillappealtothesceneinthechurchasofferingundeniableproofofthecorrectnessoftheirassertions。Soletitbe。Idisputenothinguptothispoint。ButIaskaquestion，outofthedepthsofmyownsagacityasamanoftheworld，whichthebitterestofmyenemieswillnot，Ithink，finditparticularlyeasytoanswer。

Grantedthefactofthemarriage，whatproofdoesitaffordmeoftheinnocenceofthethreepersonsconcernedinthatclandestinetransaction？Itgivesmenone。Onthecontrary，itstrengthensmysuspicionsagainstMr。Jayandhisconfederates，becauseitsuggestsadistinctmotivefortheirstealingthemoney。A

gentlemanwhoisgoingtospendhishoneymoonatRichmondwantsmoney；andagentlemanwhoisindebttoallhistradespeoplewantsmoney。Isthisanunjustifiableimputationofbadmotives？

InthenameofoutragedMorality，Idenyit。Thesemenhavecombinedtogether，andhavestolenawoman。Whyshouldtheynotcombinetogetherandstealacash—box？ItakemystandonthelogicofrigidVirtue，andIdefyallthesophistryofVicetomovemeaninchoutofmyposition。

Speakingofvirtue，ImayaddthatIhaveputthisviewofthecasetoMr。andMrs。Yatman。Thataccomplishedandcharmingwomanfounditdifficultatfirsttofollowtheclosechainofmyreasoning。Iamfreetoconfessthatsheshookherhead，andshedtears，andjoinedherhusbandinprematurelamentationoverthelossofthetwohundredpounds。Butalittlecarefulexplanationonmypart，andalittleattentivelisteningonhers，ultimatelychangedheropinion。ShenowagreeswithmethatthereisnothinginthisunexpectedcircumstanceoftheclandestinemarriagewhichabsolutelytendstodivertsuspicionfromMr。Jay，orMr。"Jack，"

ortherunawaylady。"Audacioushussy"wasthetermmyfairfriendusedinspeakingofher；butletthatpass。ItismoretothepurposetorecordthatMrs。Yatmanhasnotlostconfidenceinme，andthatMr。Yatmanpromisestofollowherexample，anddohisbesttolookhopefullyforfutureresults。

Ihavenow，inthenewturnthatcircumstanceshavetaken，toawaitadvicefromyouroffice。Ipauseforfreshorderswithallthecomposureofamanwhohasgottwostringstohisbow。WhenI

tracedthethreeconfederatesfromthechurchdoortotherailwayterminus，Ihadtwomotivesfordoingso。First，Ifollowedthemasamatterofofficialbusiness，believingthemstilltohavebeenguiltyoftherobbery。Secondly，Ifollowedthemasamatterofprivatespeculation，withaviewofdiscoveringtheplaceofrefugetowhichtherunawaycoupleintendedtoretreat，andofmakingmyinformationamarketablecommoditytooffertotheyounglady’sfamilyandfriends。Thus，whateverhappens，Imaycongratulatemyselfbeforehandonnothavingwastedmytime。Iftheofficeapprovesofmyconduct，Ihavemyplanreadyforfurtherproceedings。Iftheofficeblamesme，Ishalltakemyselfoff，withmymarketableinformation，tothegenteelvillaresidenceintheneighborhoodoftheRegent’sPark。Anyway，theaffairputsmoneyintomypocket，anddoescredittomypenetrationasanuncommonlysharpman。

Ihaveonlyonewordmoretoadd，anditisthis：IfanyindividualventurestoassertthatMr。Jayandhisconfederatesareinnocentofallshareinthestealingofthecash—box，I，inreturn，defythatindividual——thoughhemayevenbeChiefInspectorTheakstonehimself——totellmewhohascommittedtherobberyatRutherfordStreet，Soho。

Stronginthatconviction，Ihavethehonortobeyourveryobedientservant，MATTHEWSHARPIN。

FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONETOSERGEANTBULMER。

Birmingham，July9th。

SERGEANTBULMER——Thatempty—headedpuppy，Mr。MatthewSharpin，hasmadeamessofthecaseatRutherfordStreet，exactlyasI

expectedhewould。Businesskeepsmeinthistown，soIwritetoyoutosetthematterstraight。Iinclosewiththisthepagesoffeeblescribble—scrabblewhichthecreatureSharpincallsareport。Lookthemover；andwhenyouhavemadeyourwaythroughallthegabble，Ithinkyouwillagreewithmethattheconceitedboobyhaslookedforthethiefineverydirectionbuttherightone。Youcanlayyourhandontheguiltypersoninfiveminutes，now。Settlethecaseatonce；forwardyourreporttomeatthisplace，andtellMr。Sharpinthatheissuspendedtillfurthernotice。

Yours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。

FROMSERGEANTBULMERTOCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE。

London，July10th。

INSPECTORTHEAKSTONE——Yourletterandinclosurecamesafetohand。Wisemen，theysay，mayalwayslearnsomethingevenfromafool。BythetimeIhadgotthroughSharpin’smaunderingreportofhisownfolly，IsawmywayclearenoughtotheendoftheRutherfordStreetcase，justasyouthoughtIshould。Inhalfanhour’stimeIwasatthehouse。ThefirstpersonIsawtherewasMr。Sharpinhimself。

"Haveyoucometohelpme？"sayshe。

"Notexactly，"saysI。"I’vecometotellyouthatyouaresuspendedtillfurthernotice。"

"Verygood，"sayshe，nottakendownbysomuchasasinglepeginhisownestimation。"Ithoughtyouwouldbejealousofme。

It’sverynaturalandIdon’tblameyou。Walkin，pray，andmakeyourselfathome。I’mofftodoalittledetectivebusinessonmyownaccount，intheneighborhoodoftheRegent’sPark。Ta——ta，sergeant，ta——ta！"

Withthosewordshetookhimselfoutoftheway，whichwasexactlywhatIwantedhimtodo。

Assoonasthemaid—servanthadshutthedoor，ItoldhertoinformhermasterthatIwantedtosayawordtohiminprivate。

Sheshowedmeintotheparlorbehindtheshop，andtherewasMr。

Yatmanallalone，readingthenewspaper。

"Aboutthismatteroftherobbery，sir，"saysI。

Hecutmeshort，peevishlyenough，beingnaturallyapoor，weak，womanishsortofman。

"Yes，yes，Iknow，"sayshe。"Youhavecometotellmethatyourwonderfullycleverman，whohasboredholesinmysecondfloorpartition，hasmadeamistake，andisoffthescentofthescoundrelwhohasstolenmymoney。"

"Yes，sir，"saysI。"That_is_oneofthethingsIcametotellyou。ButIhavegotsomethingelsetosaybesidesthat。"

"Canyoutellmewhothethiefis？"sayshe，morepettishthanever。

"Yes，sir，"saysI，"IthinkIcan。"

Heputdownthenewspaper，andbegantolookratheranxiousandfrightened。

"Notmyshopman？"sayshe。"Ihope，fortheman’sownsake，it’snotmyshopman。"

"Guessagain，sir，"saysI。

"Thatidleslut，themaid？"sayshe。

"Sheisidle，sir，"saysI，"andsheisalsoaslut；myfirstinquiriesaboutherprovedasmuchasthat。Butshe’snotthethief。"

"Then，inthenameofHeaven，whois？"sayshe。

"Willyoupleasetoprepareyourselfforaverydisagreeablesurprise，sir？"saysI。"And，incaseyouloseyourtemper，willyouexcusemyremarkingthatIamthestrongermanofthetwo，andthatifyouallowyourselftolayhandsonme，Imayunintentionallyhurtyou，inpureself—defense。"

Heturnedaspaleasashes，andpushedhischairtwoorthreefeetawayfromme。

"Youhaveaskedmetotellyou，sir，whohastakenyourmoney，"I

wenton。"Ifyouinsistonmygivingyouananswer——"

"Idoinsist，"hesaid，faintly。"Whohastakenit？"

"Yourwifehastakenit，"Isaid，veryquietly，andverypositivelyatthesametime。

HejumpedoutofthechairasifIhadputaknifeintohim，andstruckhisfistonthetablesoheavilythatthewoodcrackedagain。

"Steady，sir，"saysI。"Flyingintoapassionwon’thelpyoutothetruth。"

"It’salie！"sayshe，withanothersmackofhisfistonthetable——"abase，vile，infamouslie！Howdareyou——"

Hestopped，andfellbackintothechairagain，lookedabouthiminabewilderedway，andendedbyburstingoutcrying。

"Whenyourbettersensecomesbacktoyou，sir，"saysI，"Iamsureyouwillbegentlemanenoughtomakeanapologyforthelanguageyouhavejustused。Inthemeantime，pleasetolisten，ifyoucan，toawordofexplanation。Mr。Sharpinhassentinareporttoourinspectorofthemostirregularandridiculouskind，settingdownnotonlyallhisownfoolishdoingsandsayings，butthedoingsandsayingsofMrs。Yatmanaswell。Inmostcases，suchadocumentwouldhavebeenfitonlyforthewastepaperbasket；butinthisparticularcaseitsohappensthatMr。Sharpin’sbudgetofnonsenseleadstoacertainconclusion，whichthesimpletonofawriterhasbeenquiteinnocentofsuspectingfromthebeginningtotheend。OfthatconclusionIamsosurethatIwillforfeitmyplaceifitdoesnotturnoutthatMrs。Yatmanhasbeenpracticinguponthefollyandconceitofthisyoungman，andthatshehastriedtoshieldherselffromdiscoverybypurposelyencouraginghimtosuspectthewrongpersons。Itellyouthatconfidently；andIwillevengofurther。IwillundertaketogiveadecidedopinionastowhyMrs。Yatmantookthemoney，andwhatshehasdonewithit，orwithapartofit。Nobodycanlookatthatlady，sir，withoutbeingstruckbythegreattasteandbeautyofherdress——"

AsIsaidthoselastwords，thepoormanseemedtofindhispowersofspeechagain。Hecutmeshortdirectlyashaughtilyasifhehadbeenadukeinsteadofastationer。

"Trysomeothermeansofjustifyingyourvilecalumnyagainstmywife，"sayshe。"Hermilliner’sbillforthepastyearisonmyfileofreceiptedaccountsatthismoment。"

"Excuseme，sir，"saysI，"butthatprovesnothing。Milliners，I

musttellyou，haveacertainrascallycustomwhichcomeswithinthedailyexperienceofouroffice。Amarriedladywhowishesitcankeeptwoaccountsatherdressmaker’s；oneistheaccountwhichherhusbandseesandpays；theotheristheprivateaccount，whichcontainsalltheextravagantitems，andwhichthewifepayssecretly，byinstallments，whenevershecan。Accordingtoourusualexperience，theseinstallmentsaremostlysqueezedoutofthehousekeepingmoney。Inyourcase，Isuspect，noinstallmentshavebeenpaid；proceedingshavebeenthreatened；

Mrs。Yatman，knowingyouralteredcircumstances，hasfeltherselfdrivenintoacorner，andshehaspaidherprivateaccountoutofyourcash—box。"

"Iwon’tbelieveit，"sayshe。"Everywordyouspeakisanabominableinsulttomeandtomywife。"

"Areyoumanenough，sir，"saysI，takinghimupshort，inordertosavetimeandwords，"togetthatreceiptedbillyouspokeofjustnowoffthefile，andcomewithmeatoncetothemilliner’sshopwhereMrs。Yatmandeals？"

Heturnedredinthefaceatthat，gotthebilldirectly，andputonhishat。Itookoutofmypocket—bookthelistcontainingthenumbersofthelostnotes，andweleftthehousetogetherimmediately。

Arrivedatthemilliner’s（oneoftheexpensiveWest—Endhouses，asIexpected），Iaskedforaprivateinterview，onimportantbusiness，withthemistressoftheconcern。ItwasnotthefirsttimethatsheandIhadmetoverthesamedelicateinvestigation。

Themomentsheseteyesonmeshesentforherhusband。I

mentionedwhoMr。Yatmanwas，andwhatwewanted。

"Thisisstrictlyprivate？"inquiresthehusband。Inoddedmyhead。

"Andconfidential？"saysthewife。Inoddedagain。

"Doyouseeanyobjection，dear，toobligingthesergeantwithasightofthebooks？"saysthehusband。