"Yes, he was a first class ghost, and no mistake," replied Mr. Brown, without moving a muscle of his face.
"Bah!" ejaculated Fred, with disdain.
"This is the very expression that we used when we were satisfied that the ghost was disposed to help us," I replied.
"Will you explain yourselves, or must I resort to extremities?" Fred exclaimed.
"Well, put the money in the safe, and then we will light our pipes, and repeat the history of our journey."
Fred hastened to comply, and while we were in the act of filling the store with tobacco smoke, we heard a commotion in front of our door, and the next instant the police commissioner entered without the formality of knocking.
"Excuse me, gentlemen," he said, "for my early visit, but I have weighty matters on hand, and have no time to lose."
We offered him a chair, but he declined the courtesy. We saw that he was ill at ease in the presence of the ex-inspector, and we rather enjoyed it than otherwise. As for Mr. Brown, he smoked his pipe with most admirable nonchalance, and appeared unconscious of the presence of his enemy.
"The fact of the matter is, gentlemen," the commissioner went on to say, "government has need of all its friends at the present time, for misguided men are plotting against its stability. The silly things will be crushed in the end; but our great desire is to make such a show of strength that no blood will be shed. Humanity dictates such a course, and I think that it will meet the approval of the governor and his advisers."
"Go on, sir," remarked Fred, seeing that the commissioner paused, as though uncertain what to say next.