"Here he is, sir," said the boy, holding out his hand, half-eagerly, half-doubtfully. "Your name is Foster," I said, addressing the man. "That's me," said Bill Foster. "You drove a party from Athelstan Road early this morning?" "Yes." I counted five shillings into the boy's outstretched hand, and he scampered away in great delight. "There's half-a-sovereign for you," I said to Bill Foster, "if you answer correctly a few questions." "About the party I drove from Athelstan Road?" he asked. "My questions will refer to them. You seem to hesitate." "The fact is," said Bill Foster, "the gentleman gave me a florin over my fare to keep my mouth shut." "Only a fifth of what I offer you," I said. "Make it a sovereign," suggested Devlin. "I've no objection," I said. "All right," said Bill Foster; "fire away." "The gentleman bribed you to keep silence respecting his movements?" I asked. "It must have been for that," replied Bill Foster. "Proving," I observed, "that he must have had some strong reason for secrecy." "That's got nothing to do with me," remarked Bill Foster. "Of course not. What you've got to do is to earn the sovereign. Who engaged you for the job?" "The gentleman himself. I wasn't out with my trap so early, and some one must have told him where I live. Anyways, he comes at a quarter-past six, and knocks me up, and says there's a good job waiting for me at 28 Athelstan Road, if I'd come at once. I says, 'All right,' and I puts my horse to, and drives there. I got to the house at ten minutes to seven, and I drives the party to the London, Chatham, and Dover." "How many were in the party?" "Four. The gentleman, a middle-aged lady, and two young 'uns." "About what ages were the young ladies?" "Can't quite say. They wore veils; but I should reckon from eighteen to twenty-two. That's near enough." "What luggage was there?" "Two trunks, a small box, and some other little things they took care of themselves." "You had charge of the two trunks?" "Yes." "And of the small box?" "O, no; the gentleman wouldn't let it out of his hands. I offered to help him with it, but he wouldn't let me touch it." "That surprised you?" "Well, yes, because it was uncommon heavy. If it was filled with gold he couldn't have been more careful of it." "Perhaps it was," I said, turning slightly to Richard Carton. "It was heavy enough. Why, he could hardly carry it." "Did either of the ladies appear anxious about it?" "Yes, the middle-aged one. When I saw them so particular, I said, said I--to myself, you know--I shouldn't mind having that myself." "When the gentleman told you to drive to the London, Chatham, and Dover station, did he say what train he wished to catch?" "No, but I found out the train they went by. It was the down train for Ramsgate, 7.31." "They reached the station some time before it started?"