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。