"Come, Anthony!" and turning, we began to
retrace our steps. But we had gone but a little way when I faced
suddenly about, for the man was plodding at our heels.
"Why the devil do you follow us?" I demanded, greatly exasperated.
"Becos' dooty is dooty, sir, an' dooty demands same," he answered
imperturbably.
"Who are you, fellow?"
"Jarsper Shrig, Bow Street officer--werry much at your service, sir!"
"And what do you want of me?"
"A piece o' paper, sir, as ewidence to establish i-dentifi-cation of
de-funct young party o' the fe-male persuasion in a case o' murder or
feller-de-see--"
Here I turned and walked on again in no little perplexity.
"What am I to do, Anthony?" I muttered.
"Bring the fellow to your chambers, despatch a note to Sir Jervas and
leave it to his decision."
So we walked on, perfectly ignoring this very pertinacious Bow Street
officer; but I, for one, was not sorry when at last we reached the
door of my chambers, and halting, turned to behold the Bow Street
officer, who had stopped also and appeared to be lost in contemplation
of the adjacent chimney pots. And as he stood thus, I was struck by
his air of irreproachable respectability and pervading mildness;
despite the formidable knotted stick beneath his arm, he seemed indeed
to radiate benevolence from the soles of his stout boots to the crown
of his respectable, broad-brimmed hat.
"A re-markable vide-avake young man, yours, sir," said he gently,
still apparently lost in contemplation of the chimney pots, "a
re-markable vatchful young man an' werry attentive!"
"What do you mean, officer?"
"I mean, sir, as he's opened your door afore you knocked.
Pages:
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345