"And a lad named Bryant?" asked the inspector, reporting Dick's description of him.
Pedder shook his head. "I've seen a chap with Curly, but don't know anything of him, good or bad."
"Well, take a man with you and bring them both here. Be sure that Peters has no chance to get rid of any money."
"Very good, sir," said Pedder, looking at the clock. "The round trip oughtn't to take more than half an hour, if I've any luck."
"Sit down, Mr. Broad—and you, my boy," said the inspector, who immediately resumed his writing, and did not look up again till Mr. Farrant was shown into the room.
Five minutes after the half-hour there was a scuffling noise in the passage, the door was thrown open, and in marched Curly Peters and Bryant in the custody of the two plain-clothes policemen.
Curly looked about him with easy self-assurance. His companion, on the contrary, was white and trembling, and would have fallen but for the officer's support.
"Search them!" said the inspector briefly.
"You won't find anything on me but my own money," said Curly defiantly. "I've only a two-shilling piece, which I worked hard enough for, too. I earned it yesterday, carrying boxes on the quay."
"You'd better keep a still tongue," advised the inspector gruffly. "All you say may be used as evidence against you."