"I don't doubt it. I'll see to him."
The detective pushed toward the mouth of the alley, and with a cry the woman fled.
It was a strange proceeding on her part, but the detective did not think anything of it.
Almost directly across the street stood a small, old-fashioned tap-house, called the Star and Garter.
It was like many others of its class in London, disreputable from the ground up, and he looked at it trying to make out the figure of his enemy.
Half screened himself by the shadows of the building at the opening of the alley, Old Broadbrim used his eyes to advantage, and presently made out a form across the street.
It moved.
Standing still, he watched it saunter off, and at last it came toward the alley on the same side.
The spy was coming to investigate, and the detective made ready for the meeting.
The figure of the spy was tall and agile.