“What’s to be done,” said Peace. “Is there any means of escape? I must not be seen by the tall ones or I am a lost man.”
“Father, two gentlemen want to speak to you,” said a youth in the shop, who was Simmonds’s son.
“Fly up-stairs,” cried the Jew, “and hook it. I will keep them in conversation. Step it at once.”
Peace required no second bidding; he left the back parlour just as the Jew entered his shop.
“Your servant, gentlemen,” said he in oleaginous accents. “Vat can I do for you?”
“Have you purchased a watch to day or yesterday, bearing on its face the name of Velluming,” said one of the detectives.
“No! Haven’t purchased any watch for a week or more.”
“You are quite sure of that?”
“Oh, yes—certainly I am.”
“Wasn’t there a person in your back parlour when we entered?” said the taller of the two.