On the occasion to which I now refer, he walked straight to the nearest tavern and ordered a couple of mutton-chops for his dinner.I placed myself in the next box to him, and ordered a couple of mutton-chops for my dinner.Before I had been in the room a minute, a young man of highly suspicious manners and appearance, sitting at a table opposite, took his glass of porter in his hand and joined Mr.Jay.I pretended to be reading the newspaper, and listened, as in duty bound, with all my might.
"Jack has been here inquiring after you," says the young man.
"Did he leave any message?" asks Mr.Jay.
"Yes," says the other."He told me, if I met with you, to say that he wished very particularly to see you to-night, and that he would give you a look in at Rutherford Street at seven o'clock.""All right," says Mr.Jay."I'll get back in time to see him."Upon this, the suspicious-looking young man finished his porter, and saying that he was rather in a hurry, took leave of his friend (perhaps I should not be wrong if I said his accomplice?), and left the room.
At twenty-five minutes and a half past six--in these serious cases it is important to be particular about time--Mr.Jay finished his chops and paid his bill.At twenty-six minutes and three-quarters I finished my chops and paid mine.In ten minutes more I was inside the house in Rutherford Street, and was received by Mrs.Yatman in the passage.That charming woman's face exhibited an expression of melancholy and disappointment which it quite grieved me to see.
"I am afraid, ma'am," says I, "that you have not hit on any little criminating discovery in the lodger's room?"She shook her head and sighed.It was a soft, languid, fluttering sigh--and, upon my life, it quite upset me.For the moment Iforgot business, and burned with envy of Mr.Yatman.
"Don't despair, ma'am," I said, with an insinuating mildness which seemed to touch her."I have heard a mysterious conversation--I know of a guilty appointment--and I expect great things from my peep-hole and my pipe-hole to-night.Pray don't be alarmed, but I think we are on the brink of a discovery."Here my enthusiastic devotion to business got the better part of my tender feelings.I looked--winked--nodded--left her.
When I got back to my observatory, I found Mr.Jay digesting his mutton-chops in an armchair, with his pipe in his mouth.On his table were two tumblers, a jug of water, and the pint bottle of brandy.It was then close upon seven o'clock.As the hour struck the person described as "Jack" walked in.
He looked agitated--I am happy to say he looked violently agitated.The cheerful glow of anticipated success diffused itself (to use a strong expression) all over me, from head to foot.With breathless interest I looked through my peep-hole, and saw the visitor--the "Jack" of this delightful case--sit down, facing me, at the opposite side of the table to Mr.Jay.Making allowance for the difference in expression which their countenances just now happened to exhibit, these two abandoned villains were so much alike in other respects as to lead at once to the conclusion that they were brothers.Jack was the cleaner man and the better dressed of the two.I admit that, at the outset.It is, perhaps, one of my failings to push justice and impartiality to their utmost limits.I am no Pharisee; and where Vice has its redeeming point, I say, let Vice have its due--yes, yes, by all manner of means, let Vice have its due.
"What's the matter now, Jack?" says Mr.Jay.
"Can't you see it in my face?" says Jack."My dear fellow, delays are dangerous.Let us have done with suspense, and risk it, the day after to-morrow.""So soon as that?" cries Mr.Jay, looking very much astonished.
"Well, I'm ready, if you are.But, I say, Jack, is somebody else ready, too? Are you quite sure of that?"He smiled as he spoke--a frightful smile--and laid a very strong emphasis on those two words, "Somebody else." There is evidently a third ruffian, a nameless desperado, concerned in the business.
"Meet us to-morrow," says Jack, "and judge for yourself.Be in the Regent's Park at eleven in the morning, and look out for us at the turning that leads to the Avenue Road.""I'll be there," says Mr.Jay."Have a drop of brandy-and-water?
What are you getting up for? You're not going already?""Yes, I am," says Jack."The fact is, I'm so excited and agitated that I can't sit still anywhere for five minutes together.
Ridiculous as it may appear to you, I'm in a perpetual state of nervous flutter.I can't, for the life of me, help fearing that we shall be found out.I fancy that every man who looks twice at me in the street is a spy--"At these words I thought my legs would have given way under me.
Nothing but strength of mind kept me at my peep-hole--nothing else, I give you my word of honor.
"Stuff and nonsense!" cries Mr.Jay, with all the effrontery of a veteran in crime."We have kept the secret up to this time, and we will manage cleverly to the end.Have a drop of brandy-and-water, and you will feel as certain about it as I do."Jack steadily refused the brandy-and-water, and steadily persisted in taking his leave.
"I must try if I can't walk it off," he said."Remember to-morrow morning--eleven o'clock, Avenue Road, side of the Regent's Park."With those words he went out.His hardened relative laughed desperately and resumed the dirty clay pipe.
I sat down on the side of my bed, actually quivering with excitement.
It is clear to me that no attempt has yet been made to change the stolen bank-notes, and I may add that Sergeant Bulmer was of that opinion also when he left the case in my hands.What is the natural conclusion to draw from the conversation which I have just set down? Evidently that the confederates meet to-morrow to take their respective shares in the stolen money, and to decide on the safest means of getting the notes changed the day after.
