"If there's treachery, Sampson and me will find it out between us," he said to himself. He was fortunate in finding Sampson in, and very soon unfolded his errand. Sampson was as London-bred as Jim was the reverse. He was a little fellow, with a face like a ferret; he had sharp-peaked features, a pale skin with many freckles, very small, keen blue eyes, rather closely set together, red hair, which he wore short and stuck up straight all over his small head. His face was clean-shaven, and he had a very alert look. Sampson did not live in an attic--he had a neat, well-furnished room, on the third floor. His room did not show the taste Jim's did--it was largely garnished with colored photographs of handsome young women, and some of the most celebrated cricketers and boxers of the day. His mantelpiece was covered with pipes and one or two policemen's whistles. He was indulging in a pipe when Jim was announced. He welcomed his friend cordially, asked him to be seated, listened to his tale, and then sat silent, thinking very carefully over the mystery. "Well," said Jim, "why don't you speak? I have got to clear this thing in a couple of days. My girl will have nothing to do with me until she is cleared of this shame, so you see how things stand, Sampson. I have got a bit of money put by, and I'll spend it clearing her if you think you can help me." "No, no, 'taint my line," said Sampson, "and, besides, I wouldn't take your money, old chap; you are welcome to my advice, but I should only rouse suspicion if I were to appear in the matter--still, we can talk the thing well over. It seems to me the point is this, who was the person who got to the till while Miss Reed's back was turned?" "They swear that no one could get to it," replied Jim. "The till is, of course, in the master's desk, and Alison was close to it--she scarcely left that part of the shop--at any rate, only to move a foot or two away, before the customer arrived whom she was to serve. She served her customer, and went to ask Mr. Shaw for change. He told her that the key was in the till, and that she might help herself. She took the change out and then locked the till. Alison is anxious enough to be cleared, you may be quite sure, but she can't see herself how it was possible that anyone else could have got to the till from the moment the five-pound note was put into it until she herself took change out and then locked it." "Yes, of course," said Sampson, "so she thinks. Now, one of three things is plain. You'll forgive me if I speak right out quite plainly, my boy?" "Of course," answered Hardy, with a faint smile. "You were always famous for telling your mind when you liked, Sampson." "And for keeping it back when I liked," retorted Sampson. "I wouldn't be much of a detective if I didn't do that--still, this is my view of the case in a nutshell. One of three things must have happened--that is, granted that Mr. Shaw did put the five-pound note into the till."