Having thus arranged his plan of action satisfactorily, Dowker turned his attention to Number four of his memoranda, and proceeded to tell Flip what he wanted him to do.
"You see this?" asked Dowker, showing Flip the dagger he had abstracted from Cleopatra Villa.
Flip intimated by a vigorous nod of his head that he did.
"I've got an idea," explained Dowker smoothly, "that a dagger very similar to this is to be found in the possession of Mr. Myles Desmond, the gentleman you saw to-day, so I want you by some means to get into his rooms and find out if it's there."
Flip screwed his face into a look of profound thought, and then smiled in a satisfied manner.
"I'll do it, Guv'nor," he said, sagaciously.
"How?" asked Dowker, curious to learn how this juvenile detective proposed to deal with the problem.
"I'll doss on his doorstep to-night," said Flip, "and when he comes 'ome do a 'perish'--you knows"--in an explanatory tone--"say I'm dyin' for victuals--'e'll take me inside, and when I gits there you leave me alone, guv'nor, I'm fly!"
"Well, you can manage it as you please," said Dowker. "But don't you prick yourself with it, as it's poisoned, and Flip, if you bring me this dagger without him knowing about it, I'll give you half a sov."
"Done, Guv'nor!" said Flip, joyfully, and bidding adieu to his patron, went off to get something to eat and prepare his plan of action.