"'That has yet to be discovered, and discovered it shall be. The abstraction of this revolver may assist us. The fellow does not dream that I have its description here, and that it can be sworn to. Surely he was not dressed as a policeman?'

"'No, sir, he sed he was a private officer.'

"'And you believed him?'

"Again Mrs. Middlemore moaned, 'What else could I do, sir? what else could I do? He spoke that confident and easy that an angel would 'ave believed what he sed.'

"'Don't be taken in again. Be just a little more careful in your dealings with strangers.'

"'I will, sir, I will.'

"'I don't see that I can do any good by remaining here. I should like, though, to take down from your lips a description of the man. You can give it to me, I hope?'

"'I can, sir. A tall man, very thin, with a long thin face and thick black eyebrows.'

"'Is that all?'

"'All I can remember, sir.'