quantity of silver plate stolen. "Twenty pounds reward offered for
any information that may lead to the recovery of the missing
property."

"That burglary's my lay," said Gerald; "I'll detect that. Here comes
Johnson," he added; "he's going off duty. Ask him about it. The fell
detective, being invisible, was unable to pump the constable, but
the young brother of our hero made the inquiries in quite a
creditable manner. Be creditable, Jimmy."

Jimmy hailed the constable.

"Halloa, Johnson!" he said.

And Johnson replied: "Halloa, young shaver!"

"Shaver yourself!" said Jimmy, but without malice.

"What are you doing this time of night?" the constable asked
jocosely. "All the dicky birds is gone to their little nesteses."

"We've been to the fair," said Kathleen. "There was a conjurer
there. I wish you could have seen him."

"Heard about him," said Johnson; "all fake, you know. The
quickness of the 'and deceives the hi."

Such is fame. Gerald, standing in the shadow, jingled the loose
money in his pocket to console himself.