Mr.Jay is, beyond a doubt, the leading criminal in this business, and he will probably run the chief risk--that of changing the fifty-pound note.I shall, therefore, still make it my business to follow him--attending at the Regent's Par k to-morrow, and doing my best to hear what is said there.If another appointment is made for the day after, I shall, of course, go to it.In the meantime, I shall want the immediate assistance of two competent persons (supposing the rascals separate after their meeting) to follow the two minor criminals.
It is only fair to add that, if the rogues all retire together, Ishall probably keep my subordinates in reserve.Being naturally ambitious, I desire, if possible, to have the whole credit of discovering this robbery to myself.
8th July.
I have to acknowledge, with thanks, the speedy arrival of my two subordinates--men of very average abilities, I am afraid; but, fortunately, I shall always be on the spot to direct them.
My first business this morning was necessarily to prevent possible mistakes by accounting to Mr.and Mrs.Yatman for the presence of two strangers on the scene.Mr.Yatman (between ourselves, a poor, feeble man) only shook his head and groaned.
Mrs.Yatman (that superior woman) favored me with a charming look of intelligence.
"Oh, Mr.Sharpin!" she said, "I am so sorry to see those two men!
Your sending for their assistance looks as if you were beginning to be doubtful of success."I privately winked at her (she is very good in allowing me to do so without taking offense), and told her, in my facetious way, that she labored under a slight mistake.
"It is because I am sure of success, ma'am, that I send for them.
I am determined to recover the money, not for my own sake only, but for Mr.Yatman's sake--and for yours."I laid a considerable amount of stress on those last three words.
She said: "Oh, Mr.Sharpin!" again, and blushed of a heavenly red, and looked down at her work.I could go to the world's end with that woman if Mr.Yatman would only die.
I sent off the two subordinates to wait until I wanted them at the Avenue Road gate of the Regent's Park.Half-an-hour afterward I was following the same direction myself at the heels of Mr.
Jay.
The two confederates were punctual to the appointed time.I blush to record it, but it is nevertheless necessary to state that the third rogue--the nameless desperado of my report, or, if you prefer it, the mysterious "somebody else" of the conversation between the two brothers--is--a woman! and, what is worse, a young woman! and, what is more lamentable still, a nice-looking woman! I have long resisted a growing conviction that, wherever there is mischief in this world, an individual of the fair *** is inevitably certain to be mixed up in it.After the experience of this morning, I can struggle against that sad conclusion no longer.I give up the ***--excepting Mrs.Yatman, I give up the ***.
The man named "Jack" offered the woman his arm.Mr.Jay placed himself on the other side of her.The three then walked away slowly among the trees.I followed them at a respectful distance.
My two subordinates, at a respectful distance, also, followed me.
It was, I deeply regret to say, impossible to get near enough to them to overhear their conversation without running too great a risk of being discovered.I could only infer from their gestures and actions that they were all three talking with extraordinary earnestness on some subject which deeply interested them.After having been engaged in this way a full quarter of an hour, they suddenly turned round to retrace their steps.My presence of mind did not forsake me in this emergency.I signed to the two subordinates to walk on carelessly and pass them, while I myself slipped dexterously behind a tree.As they came by me, I heard "Jack" address these words to Mr.Jay:
"Let us say half-past ten to-morrow morning.And mind you come in a cab.We had better not risk taking one in this neighborhood."Mr.Jay made some brief reply which I could not overhear.They walked back to the place at which they had met, shaking hands there with an audacious cordiality which it quite sickened me to see.They then separated.I followed Mr.Jay.My subordinates paid the same delicate attention to the other two.
Instead of taking me back to Rutherford Street, Mr.Jay led me to the Strand.He stopped at a dingy, disreputable-looking house, which, according to the inscription over the door, was a newspaper office, but which, in my judgment, had all the external appearance of a place devoted to the reception of stolen goods.
After remaining inside for a few minutes, he came out whistling, with his finger and thumb in his waistcoat pocket.Some men would now have arrested him on the spot.I remembered the necessity of catching the two confederates, and the importance of not interfering with the appointment that had been made for the next morning.Such coolness as this, under trying circumstances, is rarely to be found, I should imagine, in a young beginner, whose reputation as a detective policeman is still to make.
From the house of suspicious appearance Mr.Jay betook himself to a cigar-divan, and read the magazines over a cheroot.From the divan he strolled to the tavern and had his chops.I strolled to the tavern and had my chops.When he had done he went back to his lodging.When I had done I went back to mine.He was overcome with drowsiness early in the evening, and went to bed.As soon as I heard him snoring, I was overcome with drowsiness and went to bed also.
Early in the morning my two subordinates came to make their report.