"Mr Darwen's house was burgled last night."
"Last night? Why I was there up till half-past eleven. Did they get away with much?"
Policeman X19 smiled. "More than they wanted, sir. Mr Darwen heard a noise and come down with a bull's-eye lantern and a revolver. They fired almost together; 'e hit Mr Darwen in the arm, and Mr Darwen plugged 'im through the chest. Our men's on his track, now."
"Good Lord, I must go along and see him." Carstairs turned off towards Darwen's house. As he went up the garden path, he passed a rather pretty girl, neatly dressed, going out. He raised his hat and also his eyebrows at the same time.
She stopped and blushed slightly. "Oh, Mr Carstairs, I heard Mr Darwen was shot and came round to inquire if it was serious."
"You didn't tell me," he said.
"No, I didn't know till you'd gone."
He found Darwen having breakfast with his mother. His left arm was bound up, but he seemed jubilant and happy. His mother also seemed the same. "It was most exciting. Something woke me up just about two o'clock. Don't know what it was, but while I lay awake I thought I heard somebody, the noise was very slight. Anyhow I went down to see, accompanied by a bull's-eye lantern, which I'd only bought the day before, and a small bore revolver. I located the disturber just coming out of the drawing-room, I was on the stairs. I hadn't made a sound, but he had a revolver in his hand, and as soon as he saw the light he let fly."
"I heard two shots, one just after the other, nearly frightened me out of my life—" Mrs Darwen took up the tale. "The brute tried to kill him, and now he won't prosecute him. You remember the way he was talking about fair play last night, Mr Carstairs."
Darwen smiled apologetically. "The poor devil has had enough, though it's not a very serious wound. I tied him up, gave him some brandy and a pipe of tobacco. He's a unique specimen, born in the woods, and bred at sea, on sailing ships; hardly civilized, but quite a decent chap, very susceptible to music; only he's deficient in moral sensibilities. Like me." He looked at his mother and laughed.