“He had no time to carry off a thing,” said Mrs. Griffiths.
“I would like to set my eyes on him,” I remarked, when Miss Gwynne had concluded her story. “You are a distinguished woman and are—I believe—the very first one who ever received an offer of marriage from a burglar.”
The lady smiled. “Do you not remember reading about the capture of a notorious bank robber, several years ago? The case created quite a sensation, owing partly to the difficulty in tracing the thief, who was clever enough to puzzle the most expert detectives and evade the police, and also to the respectability of his position. No one could believe him guilty.”
“Indeed I do remember it,” I answered. “Not only that, but I saw the man after he was in prison. I happened to be going through Chester Jail at the time and J——— was pointed out to me. He was quite distinguished looking. In fact, I did not believe him guilty.”
“Nor would I,” said Miss Gwynne, “if I had not known.”
“You mean,” I said, “that he——
“I mean that you saw my burglar.”
