"You seem to be the leader," I said, "and for that reason I want to have a little talk with you. Your companion can take himself off as soon as he pleases. If he does not, let me assure him that he will get into trouble. Your intention to 'out me,' as you call it, has failed, as you can see, and when I have done with you I don't think the attempt will be repeated. Now get off, my man, and thank your stars that I have let you go so easily."
Never were the tables turned so quickly or so completely on a pair of rogues, and the man I addressed seemed to think too. After a whispered conversation with his companion, he walked away at his best pace, and we saw no more of him.
"Now," I said, turning to the fellow who was left behind, "you will come along with me to my office, and we'll have a little talk together."
Our prisoner would have resisted, but certain warnings I was able to give him, induced him to change his mind. When we reached my office I opened the door and conducted him to my sanctum, while Wilson followed close behind and lit the gas. He then passed into the outer office, leaving me alone with my prisoner. On closer inspection he proved to be a burly ruffian, and would doubtless have proved an ugly customer to tackle alone. He, in his turn, looked at me in some interest and then at the door, as if he were half inclined to try the effect of a struggle.
"First and foremost, do you know where you are and who I am?" I asked him.
"No," he said, "I can't say as ever I set my eyes on yer afore last night, and I don't know yer bloomin' name or what yer are and I don't want to."
"Politeness is evidently not your strong point," I commented. "Just look at that!"
Taking a sheet of note-paper from the rack upon my table I handed it to him.
He did so, and I saw a look of surprise steal over his face. He looked from it to me and then back again at the paper.
"Fairfax," he said. "The d---- Tec, the same as got poor old Billy Whitelaw scragged last year."