“I thought not. But some other chaps who kem ’ere was. None of ’em ever said the lydy was dead.”
“Why; what matter?”
“Oh, nothin’, but two ’eads is better’n one, if they’re only sheep’s ’eads.”
“Undoubtedly. The rule is all the more reliable when one of them belongs to a shrewd chap like you.”
The collector grinned. He understood that he was being flattered for a purpose, yet he liked it.
“That’s one w’y of lookin’ at it,” he said, “but if this affair’s pertickler, why, all I can s’y is it’s worth somethin’ to somebody.”
“Certainly. Here’s a sovereign for a start. If you can tell me anything really worth knowing I will add four more to it.”
“Now, that’s talkin’. I’m off duty at eight o’clock, an’ I can’t ’ave a chat now because I expect the inspector any minute.”
“Suppose you call and see me in Victoria Street at nine?”
“Right you are, sir.”