‘O father!’ she said, ‘it was so unexpected, so sudden—I thought—I do not know what I thought.’ She faltered as she spoke, and the tears were in her eyes.
This was so different from her usual cheerful manner, that I would not go out until she had recovered herself. Perhaps I should not have gone then, but that a young friend of her own happened to call in, and so I was more satisfied to leave her.
My companion scarcely spoke during the ride; and when we arrived at the square where Mr Thurles lived, I was at once shown up into the library, where the gentleman was waiting for me. I never saw a harsher or sterner looking man than the merchant. He was, I supposed, about sixty years old, with thin iron-gray hair, gray bushy whiskers, and large heavy eyebrows, which, when he frowned, gave an expression to his face which was anything but pleasant.
He came to business directly, and spoke in just the tone one would have expected from such a man. ‘You are, or were, Sergeant Holdrey, of the — division, I believe?’
I replied that he was right.
‘I have sent for you,’ he went on, ‘because our house was interested in a case managed by you, and I then made up my mind that if ever I wanted a detective, you should be the man.’
I began to say something about my feeling flattered by being thus distinguished; but he continued, without taking notice of it.
‘You will be paid well; and the quicker you are, the better I shall pay you. I am inclined to think that you will not find your work specially difficult. I believe I know who is wanted, but I must have better information. My counting-house has been robbed, the safe opened with false keys, and ransacked.’
‘It has been kept very quiet,’ I said, as he paused; ‘for I have never heard a word of it. I hope you did not lose much?’
‘It has been kept quiet,’ answered Mr Thurles; ‘no one out of my establishment knows of it, and very few of our own people have more than a dim idea of the right story. We did not lose much; only the outer safe was opened. The thieves had not the keys of the inner one, which contained a large amount in money; but perhaps they did not want to open that.’