"I came at once, sir, the moment I got your message. I am glad I still
have your confidence."

"That you'll always have," said the Superintendent heartily. "I have
not forgotten our old Bow Street days, and I never shall!" Then,
without a word of preliminary, he began to tell everything he knew up to
the moment of the newcomer's entry. Sergeant Daw asked a few questions--a
very few--when it was necessary for his understanding of circumstances or
the relative positions of persons; but as a rule Dolan, who knew his
work thoroughly, forestalled every query, and explained all necessary
matters as he went on. Sergeant Daw threw occasionally swift glances
round him; now at one of us; now at the room or some part of it; now at
the wounded man lying senseless on the sofa.

When the Superintendent had finished, the Sergeant turned to me and
said:

"Perhaps you remember me, sir. I was with you in that Hoxton case."

"I remember you very well," I said as I held out my hand. The
Superintendent spoke again:

"You understand, Sergeant Daw, that you are put in full charge of this
case."

"Under you I hope, sir," he interrupted. The other shook his head and
smiled as he said:

"It seems to me that this is a case that will take all a man's time and
his brains. I have other work to do; but I shall be more than