'That's his writing,' said he.
It was a stiff schoolboy's scrawl.
This was not my man then. I apologized to Mr. L—— for the trouble I had given him, and withdrew.
Lost time, said I to myself. I am on the wrong track. I must back to the eating house, and begin the chase again from the point where I left off. I saw the same waiter.
'I want you to think again,' said I, 'Try hard to remember whether there was never any other man here with Hawes on any occasion.'
After reflecting for a little while, he said he thought he recollected his going up stairs not long ago, with another man, to a private room.
'Did you wait on him yourself at the time you speak of?' I asked.
'No—most likely it was Joe Harris.'
'Will you send for him, if you please.'
Joe Harris came.