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。