“Yes, but you see, Mr. Wrench, I don’t know why it is, but the police seem to me to be so often in fault.”
“In what way, my lord?”
“Perhaps I am wrong in making use of so strong an expression. I don’t know that they are positively in fault, but certainly, scoundrels of the very deepest dye seem to contrive to elude them. I cannot see why this is. I should have thought, with the extensive machinery we have in the shape of a well-organised police force, together with the detective department, that it would have been next to impossible for a man who was well known to be concealed for any length of time.”
The detective smiled, and said, “You have no idea, my lord, of the difficulties of detection. They are almost incalculable. I am sure we all of us do our best. If we don’t succeed, it is some unknown cause which lies far beyond our reach. Every effort has already been made on the part of the local constabulary as well as the metropolitan. Nevertheless, it will never do to give the case up as hopeless. I am ready to set to work at once.”
“Thank you. I am glad of that, as I have great confidence in you. That I need hardly say, seeing that you have given me such unmistakable proof of your ability. I have jotted down all the particulars in reference to the case,” said the earl, drawing from his desk a paper, “and at the same time I have made marginal notes and suggestions there. You will use your own discretion about adopting them or rejecting them as you please. The modus operandi I leave to you. What money you require Mr. Chicknell will furnish you with, and I do hope and trust you may be successful.”
Mr. Wrench bowed, took the paper, and promised to set actively to work, and the Earl felt assured that the murderer of Philip Jamblin would not be long at large.
CHAPTER LXI.
ANOTHER GLANCE AT PRISON LIFE. PEACE’S NEW OCCUPATION.
While all these events were taking place Charles Peace was becoming better acquainted with prison life. He was getting fairly sick of the wearisome monotony of his solitary mode of existence, and although he contrived to get through the quantum of work assigned to him each day, he found it by no means an easy task.
Mat making was the hardest work done in the gaol in which Peace was confined, and when this was supplemented by picking oakum, as it was in his case, it became still more so.