The policeman nodded his head sagely when Bob had finished his story.
"Yes, sir," he said, "you have done a good night's work. I am afraid I shall have to take your name and address, because you will be called upon as witness against them. You have helped me to put my hand upon a nice little plot, and if these fellows don't get six months, I am very much mistaken."
When Bob got back to his hotel that night, and was able to think calmly of what had taken place, he was considerably perturbed.
Of course the incident in itself was sordid enough. The woman was supposed to be the wife of one of these men, and Bob by his intervention had hindered what might have been a brutal tragedy.
But that wasn't all. The thing was a commentary on his conversation with Dr. Renthall.
Two days later Bob appeared at the police court against these men, and heard with satisfaction the Magistrates sentence them both to severe punishment.
There is no need for me to tell the whole story here, a story of cruelty and theft. The fellows received less than their due in the sentence that was pronounced, and Bob felt that he had freed society, for some time at all events, of two dangerous characters.
The local papers made quite a feature of the case and spoke with great warmth of Bob's courage, and the benefit he had rendered the community.
"I say, Nancarrow," said Dr. Renthall, when next they met, "they are making quite a hero of you. I must congratulate you."
"On what?" asked Bob.