the others. It was the likeliest thing in the world that Robbie had been warned to have no more to do with me. The whole policy of the Gilchrists was in the hands of Chevenix; and I thought this was a precaution so elementary that he was certain to have taken it. If he had not, of course I was all right: Robbie would manage to communicate with Flora; and by four o'clock I might be on the south road and, I was going to say, a free man. Lastly, I must assure myself with my own eyes whether the bank in George Street were beleaguered.
I called to Rowley and questioned him tightly as to the appearance of the Bow Street officer.
"What sort of looking man is he, Rowley?" I asked, as I began to dress.
"Wot sort of a looking man he is?" repeated Rowley. "Well, I don't very well know wot you would say, Mr, Anne. He ain't a beauty, any'ow."
"Is he tall?"
"Tall? Well, no, I shouldn't say tall, Mr. Anne."
"Well, then, is he short?"
"Short? No, I don't think I would say he was what you would call short. No, not piticular short, sir."
"Then, I suppose, he must be about the middle height?"
"Well, you might say it, sir; but not remarkable so."
I smothered an oath.
"Is he clean-shaved?" I tried him again.
"Clean-shaved?" he repeated, with the same air of anxious candour.
"Good heaven, man, don't repeat my words like a parrot!" I cried. "Tell me what the man was like: it is of the first importance that I should be able to recognise him."
"I'm trying to, Mr. Anne. But clean shaved? I don't
