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572 - ‘ A I OHARLES ‘DICKENS’ WORKS.
present,‘ but. that she confidedin John, and that John
seemed somehow to be getting more triumphant. But
what a certainty was that I . I .. I
They alighted at last at the corner of a court, where
there was a building with a bright lamp and a wicket
gate. Its orderly appearance was very unlike that of the
surrounding neighbourhood, and was explained by. the
inscription POLICE STATION. ' ,.. :
“ lVe are not going in here, J ohn? .” said Bella, cling-
ingtohim., .. . 2. ,'
“ Yes, my dear: but of our own accord. We shall
come out again as easily, never fear.”‘ ,
The whitewashed room .was pure white as of old, the
methodical book-keeping was in peaceful progress as of
old, and some distant howler was hanging against a cell
door as of old. ‘ The sanctuary was not a permanent
abiding-place, but akind of criminal Pickford’s. -The
lower passions and vices were regularlyticked oif in the
books, warehoused in the cells, carted away as per ac-
companying invoice, and left little mark upon it. ,
Mr. Inspector placed two chairs for his visitors, before
the fire, and communed in a lowrvoice with a brother of
his order (also of half-pay, and Royal Arms aspect), who,
judged only by his occupation at the moment, might have
been a writing-inaster, setting copies. Their conference
done, Mr. Inspector returned to the fireplace, and, hav-
ing observed that he would step round to the Fellow-
ships and see how matters stood. went out. He soon
came back again, saying,"‘ Nothing could be better, for
they're at supper with Miss Abbey in the bar :” and then
they all three went out together.. . ' r , .- , . , .
Still, as in a dream, Bella found herself entering a snug
old-fasliioricd public-liouse,' and found herself smuggled
into a. little three-cornered room nearly opposite the bar
of that establishment. ‘ Mr. Inspector achieved 'the
smuggling of herself and John into this,queer'room,
called Cosr in an inscription on 7 the [door, by entering in
the narrow passage first‘ inorder, and suddenly turning
round upon them withrextended arms, as if they had
been two sheep. The room was lighted for their reception.
“Now,” said Mr. Inspector to John, turning the gas
lower ; “ I’1l mix with ’em in a casual way, and whcn'I
say Identification, perhaps you’ll show yourself.” ’
John nodded, and Mr. Inspector went alone to the
half-door of the bar. From the dim doorway of COSY,
within which Bella and her husband stood, they could
see a comfortable little party of three persons sitting at
suplper in the bar, and.cou1d hear, everything that was
sai . . V
The three persons were Miss Abbey and two male
guests. 'I‘o whom collectively, Mr..Inspector remarked
that the weather was getting sharp‘ for the time of year.
It need be sharp to suit your wits, sir,” said Miss
Abbey. “ VVhat have you got in hand now?” ‘
f‘ Thanking you for your compliment : not much,
Miss Abbey,” was Mr. Inspector's rejoinder. .
“ XVho have you got in COSY ‘Z ’,’i asked Miss Abbey.
“Only a gentleman and his wife, Miss.” ’ , ' '
. “ An who are they? ;If one may ask it without det-
riment to ypur deep plans in the interest of the honest
public?” said Miss Abbey, proudrof Mr. Inspector as an
administrative genius. ' . ‘
“They are strangers in this art of the t I '
Abbey. They are waiting till I Ehall want tlldvxgehllzf
man to show himself somewhere, for half a moinent."
“ VVliile they’re waiting," said Miss Abbey, “ couldn't
you join us?” ' . r ,
Mr. Inspector immediately slipped into‘ the bar and
sat down at the side of the half-door, with his ‘back
towards the passage, and directly facing the two guests.
“ I don’t take my supper till later in the night,” said he
“ and therefore I won't disturb the compactness of the
table. But I’ll take a glass of flip, if that's flip in the jug
in the.fendcr?” .
“ That’s flip,” replied Miss Abbey, If and it’s my
making, and if evenyou can find out better, I shall be
glad to know where.” Filling him,‘ with hospitable
hands, a steaming tumbler, -Miss Abbey replaced the jun-
by the fire : the company not having yet arrived at thb
flip stage of their supper, but bcingas yet skirmishing
with strong ale. ‘ ' , ‘ ‘
“Ah-h i " cried Mr. Inspector. " 'I'hat’s the smack l
There’s not a Detective in the Force, Miss Abbey,‘ that
could find out better stuff than that.”. '
“ Glad to hear you say so,” . rejoined Miss Abbey,
“You ought to know, if anybody does."
“ Mr. Job Potterson,” Mr. Inspector continued, “I
drink your health. Mr. Jacob Kibble, I drink yours.
Hope you have made a prosperous voyage home, gentle-
men botli.’,’ , , i I . ‘ f
Mr. Kibble, an unctuous broad man of few words and
many mouthfuls,’said, more briefiy than pointedly, rais-
ing his ale to his lips : " Same to you.T’ Mr. Job Potter-
son, a,semi-seafaring man of obliging dcineanour, said,
“ Thank you, sir.”, , , . , H ' ,
“ Lord bless my soul and body i 3’ cried Mr. Inspector.
“ Talk of trades,,Miss Abbey, andthe way they set
their marks on men” (a subject which nobody had ap-
proached): “ who wouldn’t know your brother to he a
Steward I Tliere’s abright and ready twinkle in his eye,
there’s a neatness in his action, there's a siuartness in his
figure, there’s an air of reliability about liiui in case you
wanted a basin, which points out the steward! And
Mr. Kibble ; ain't he Passenger, all over? VVhile there's
mercantile cut upon him which would make you happy
to give him credit for five hundred pound, don’t you see
the salt sea shining on him too 7 ” .
“', You do, I dare say,” returned Miss Abbey, “but I
don’t. And as for stewarding, I think it’s time my
brother gave that up, and took this House in hand on his
sister’s retiring. The House will go to pieces if he don’t.
I wouldn’t sell it for any money that could be told out,
to a person that I couldn't depend upon to he a Law to
the Porters, as I have been.” , ‘ ..
“There you’re'right,-Miss,” said Mr. Inspector. “ A
better kept house is not known to ourmen. , What do I
say? ' Half so -well a kept house is. not known to our
men. Show the Force the Six Jolly Fellowship Por-
ters, and the Force-to a constable-will show you a
piece of perfection,'Mr. Kibble.” . , .
That. gentleman, with a very serious - shake of his
head, subscribed the article. ‘
“ And talk of Time slippingby you, as if it was an
animal at rustic sports with ;his tail soaped,” said Mr.
Inspector (again, a subject which nobody had approached);
“ why, well you may. VVell you may. How has it
slipped by us, since the time when Mr. Job Potterson
here present, Mr. Jacob Kibblc here present, and 2111
Officer of the Force here present, first came together on it
matter of Identification l” ’ '
BelIa’s husband stepped softly to the half-door of , the
bar, and stood there. , , .
“ How has time slippedby ns,’T Mr. ‘Inspector went on
slowly, with his eyes narrowly observant of ,the two
guests, “ since we three very men, at an Inquest in this
very house-Mr. Kibble‘? Taken ill, sir?” I .
Mr. Ixibhle had staggered up, with his lower J8-W
dropped, catching Potterson by the shoulder, and point-
ing to the lialf-door. He now cried out: “P,0tteTS0“l
Look I Look , there !” Potterson started up, started’
back, and exclaimed : ,“ Ilcaven defend 11S,)Vl1i1i.’S that I‘
Bclla’s husband stepped back to Bella, took her in hls
arms (for she was terrified by the unintelligible terror of
the two men), and shut the door of the little room. . A
liui-ry of voices succeeded, in which Mr. Inspector's V0169
was busiest ; it gradually slackeucd and sank; and Mr.
Inspcctor reappeared. “ Sliarp’s the word, sir?” 119
said, looking in with aknowing wink. “ VVe’ll get Your
lady out at once.” Immediate] ', Bella and her liusband
were under the stars, making their way back, 31059’ to
the vehicle they had kept in waiting. A
, All this was most extraordinary, and Bella could mul-<6
notliin of it but that John was in the right. HOW, 1“
the rig it, and how suspected. of being in the wrong: she
could not divine. Some vawue idea that he had n0Ve"
really assumed the name gt‘ Handford, and that there
Was aremarkable likeness between'liiin and that mys-
terious person, was her nearest approach to any definite
explanation. But John was triuinphant ; that much
was made apparent ; and she could wait for the rest. ’
VVhen John came home to dinner next day.119 5“ ’
Sitting down on the sofa by Bella and baby-Bella : “ NY
deal’. Ihave a piece of news to tell you. I haveilcftille
China House.”