Mr Inspector replied, with due generality and reticence,
that it was always more likely that a man had done
a bad thing than that he hadn’t. That he
himself had several times ‘reckoned up’
Gaffer, but had never been able to bring him to a
satisfactory criminal total. That if this story
was true, it was only in part true. That the two
men, very shy characters, would have been jointly
and pretty equally ‘in it;’ but that this
man had ‘spotted’ the other, to save himself
and get the money.
‘And I think,’ added Mr Inspector, in
conclusion, ’that if all goes well with him,
he’s in a tolerable way of getting it. But
as this is the Fellowships, gentlemen, where the lights
are, I recommend dropping the subject. You can’t
do better than be interested in some lime works anywhere
down about Northfleet, and doubtful whether some of
your lime don’t get into bad company as it comes
up in barges.’
‘You hear Eugene?’ said Lightwood, over
his shoulder. ’You are deeply interested
in lime.’
‘Without lime,’ returned that unmoved
barrister-at-law, ’my existence would be unilluminated
by a ray of hope.’
TRACKING THE BIRD OF PREY
The two lime merchants, with their escort, entered
the dominions of Miss Abbey Potterson, to whom their
escort (presenting them and their pretended business
over the half-door of the bar, in a confidential way)
preferred his figurative request that ‘a mouthful
of fire’ might be lighted in Cosy. Always
well disposed to assist the constituted authorities,
Miss Abbey bade Bob Gliddery attend the gentlemen to
that retreat, and promptly enliven it with fire and
gaslight. Of this commission the bare-armed Bob,
leading the way with a flaming wisp of paper, so speedily
acquitted himself, that Cosy seemed to leap out of
a dark sleep and embrace them warmly, the moment they
passed the lintels of its hospitable door.
‘They burn sherry very well here,’ said
Mr Inspector, as a piece of local intelligence.
‘Perhaps you gentlemen might like a bottle?’
The answer being By all means, Bob Gliddery received
his instructions from Mr Inspector, and departed in
a becoming state of alacrity engendered by reverence
for the majesty of the law.
‘It’s a certain fact,’ said Mr Inspector,
’that this man we have received our information
from,’ indicating Riderhood with his thumb over
his shoulder, ’has for some time past given the
other man a bad name arising out of your lime barges,
and that the other man has been avoided in consequence.
I don’t say what it means or proves, but it’s
a certain fact. I had it first from one of the
opposite sex of my acquaintance,’ vaguely indicating
Miss Abbey with his thumb over his shoulder, ’down
away at a distance, over yonder.’
Then probably Mr Inspector was not quite unprepared
for their visit that evening? Lightwood hinted.
