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。