Some little time longer he remained talking with her, partially disputing. The Italian, from some cause or other, went into ill-humour and said some provoking things. Herbert, it must be confessed, received them with good temper, and she grew more affable. When he left her, she offered to pick the loose threads out of the cloak, and hem up the bottom. "You'll lock the door while you do it?" he urged. "I will take it to my chamber," she said. "No one will molest me there." Herbert left it with her and went out. Cyril went out. Anthony had already gone out. Mr. Dare remained at home. He and his wife were conversing over the dining-room fire, in the course of the evening, when Joseph came in. "You are wanted, please, sir," he said to his master. "Who wants me?" asked Mr. Dare. "It's Policeman Delves, sir." "Oh, show him in here," said Mr. Dare. "I hope something will be done in this," he added to his wife. "It may turn out a good slice of luck for me." Sergeant Delves came in. In point of fact, he had just returned from that interview with the butcher, where he had been accompanied by Mr. Ashley and William. "Well, Delves, did you get my note?" asked Mr. Dare. "Yes, sir, I did," said the sergeant, taking the seat offered him. "It's what I have come up about." "Do you intend to act upon my advice?" "Why--no, I think not," replied the sergeant. "Not, at any rate, until I have had a talk with you." "What will you take?" "Well, sir, the night's cold. I don't mind a drop of brandy-and-water." It was brought, and Mr. Dare joined his visitor in partaking of it. He agreed with him that the night was cold. But nothing could Mr. Dare make of him. As often as he turned the conversation on the subject in hand, so often did the sergeant turn it off again. Mrs. Dare grew tired of listening to nothing; and she departed, leaving them together. Then the manner of Sergeant Delves changed. He drew his chair forward; and bent towards Mr. Dare. "You have been urging me to go against young Halliburton," he began. "It won't do. Halliburton no more fingered that cheque, or had anything to do with it, than you or I had. Mr. Dare, don't you stir in this matter any further." "My present intention is to stir it to the bottom," returned Mr. Dare. "Look here," said the sergeant in an undertone; "I am not obliged to take notice of offences that don't come legally in my way. Many a thing has been done in this town--ay, and is being done now--that I am obliged to wink at; it don't lay right in my duty to take notice of it, so I keep my eyes shut. Now that's just it in this case. So long as the parties concerned, Mr. Ashley, or White, don't put it into my hands officially, I am not obliged to take so-and-so into custody, or to act upon my own suspicions. And I won't do it upon suspicions of my own: I promise it. If I am forced, that's another matter." "Are you alluding to Halliburton?" "No. You are on the wrong scent, I say."