“Good-evening, Mrs Davis,” he said.
“Good-evening, sir; this is an unexpected pleasure, Mr Sharp.”
“Most of my visits are unexpected, Mrs Davis, but it is only my friends who count them a pleasure. Is your husband within?”
“He is, sir; pray, walk this way; I’m sure he will be delighted to see you. Can you stay to supper with us? we are just going to have it.”
“No, thank you, Mrs Davis, I’m out on duty to-night,” said Sharp, entering the parlour, where Davis was engaged in reading the newspaper. “Good-evening, Mr Davis.”
Davis rose with a start. Mr Sharp took note of that also.
“Good-evening, Mr Sharp,” he said; “sit down, sir; sit down.”
“Thank you, I can’t sit down. I’m on duty just now. The fact is, Mr Davis, that I am come to make a search among your men, for we have obtained reliable information as to who are the thieves at this station. As, no doubt, some of the men are honest, and might feel hurt at having their houses searched, I have thought that the best way to prevent any unpleasant feeling is to begin at the top of the free and go downwards. They can’t say that I have made fish of one and flesh of another, if I begin, as a mere matter of form, Mr Davis, with yourself.”
“Oh, certainly—certainly, Mr Sharp, by all means,” replied Davis.
He spoke with an air of candour, but it was quite evident that he was ill at ease.