"Exactly."
"Then of what further use to you is the house in A Street, and the one behind it, as well?"
"That is where I propose to make my final capture."
"Carter, this is better than a play at a theater. You have arranged it all so splendidly that it is precisely of that sort, you know. But the thing that puzzles me most, is how you could have arranged those houses for your purposes, at such short notice-and still have another house to which you, could take your prisoner."
"All that is merely accidental," replied the detective.
"Accidental? How so?"
"I have been making some investments in real estate lately," replied the detective, "and I happened to purchase those two houses some time ago. They were in frightful repair, so that I was obliged to rip them practically to pieces, before I could hope to get tenants to take them."
"I see. And now they are in process of repair; eh?"
"No. They are finished, but have not been let, as yet. I remembered that fact when I saw the necessity of having some such place to go to on this trip here, and wired ahead to the agent that I did not want them shown any more until after I had inspected them. Then I instructed one of my assistants to obtain the keys, and to make the other arrangements that I wished attended to. It will help you to understand how all this has been possible when I tell you that Chick has been in the city since six o'clock this morning."
"I am beginning to understand you now."