office was shut, and neither shouting, bell-ringing, nor hard knocks could elicit any response from the granite buildings in Basinghall Street.
A consultation in the street with a policeman and the friendly cabman, who was taken into the secret of my detention, ended in a call at the nearest police station. Here the tale had to be unfolded again, and all the doubts as to the doctor's soberness and sanity set at rest before anything further could be attempted.
"Where was the place?"
"Portland Place, West."
"Oh! it is no good coming here, you must go back to the West End; we belong to the City police."
To the doctor's mind neither eastern nor western police were of any avail.
"However," he persisted, "could a detective not be obtained to watch the house?"
"No. It was out of the power of the
