“Somehow or other, the story brought back Joseph to my mind. I seemed to see him as that well-dressed gentlemanly young man; and, raising my eyes from the paper, there he stood before me. He had scarcely changed at all since I last saw him, except that he had grown better looking, and seemed more cheerful. He nodded to me as though we had parted the day before, and ordered a chop and a small hock. I spread a fresh serviette for him, and asked him if he cared to see the paper.
“'Anything interesting in it, Henry?' says he.
“'Rather a daring robbery committed on the Westminster Bank yesterday,' I answers.
“'Oh, ah! I did see something about that,' says he.
“'The thief was described as a well-dressed young man of gentlemanly appearance, wearing a black beard and moustache,' says I.
“He laughs pleasantly.
“'That will make it awkward for nice young men with black beards and moustaches,' says he.
“'Yes,' I says. 'Fortunately for you and me, we're clean shaved.'
“I felt as certain he was the man as though I'd seen him do it.
“He gives me a sharp glance, but I was busy with the cruets, and he had to make what he chose out of it.