“That was the impression,” said the Sergeant, with a touch of acidity, “I intended to convey.”
“And you think they’re guilty?”
“I’ll stake my reputation on it, sir,” said Sergeant Bellchambers.
“That is not much of a bet,” remarked the other.
“You can take it from me that these pilferages will never cease until the men I’ve referred to are turned out.”
“I’m very anxious to do something,” said the Superintendent, taking up a ruler thoughtfully.
“Like myself, sir,” said Bellchambers. “That’s me all over.”
“But not,” said the Superintendent, hitting the table, “not in the direction you suggest. Read this!”
He handed over the morning paper to Sergeant Bellchambers, pointing to a letter headed “Recent Complaints of Pilferages.”
“Ah!” said the Sergeant exultingly, “they’re going for us again, then. ‘Dear Sir,’ he read. ‘With reference to our letters to you complaining of abstraction from our parcels of cigars sent by railway, we think it only right to inform you that we have discovered these pilferages were made by one of our own men. It appears that after delivering the parcels at the station here, and after they were weighed, he was in the habit of offering to take them to the train, and whilst doing this effected the robberies to which reference has been made. We need scarcely point out that if the station had been wisely managed these lamentable occurrences would in all probability never have taken place; the only question is, who is responsible? We are, dear sir, yours faithfully—’”