"Nearly always alone," Steel informed him. "But I have seen two persons going there to see her. I’m not dead sure that one of them does not live there, or remain there overnight. He may be a relative." "Describe him." "He’s a young, smooth-faced chap about eighteen years old. He always wears knickerbockers and a golf cap. I don’t see him very often, but I know he is there occasionally." "I understand," nodded Patsy. So he did, indeed. He had not the slightest doubt that the person described was Sadie Badger herself, masquerading in the same attire in which Nick had encountered her, and presumably with knavery of some kind in view. That she was thus living a double life, committing her crimes in the disguise of an innocent-looking young man, Patsy was equally confident. "I don’t know the young fellow’s name," Steel added, after a moment. "I’ve not seen him for several days." "Who is the other person you have seen going there?" "An elderly man, Mr. Garvan." "Describe him." "Well, I should say he’s about forty, or a little older, perhaps," said the clerk. "He’s a man of medium build, quite dark complexion, and he wears a brown, pointed beard. He nearly always shows up about dusk, and I’ve seen him leaving late in the evening. That’s all I know about him." Patsy’s face had taken on a more serious expression. "Gee whiz! that description tallies perfectly with the make-up of Gaston Goulard, worn when he held up the chief last night," he was saying to himself. "Can it be that he has become friendly with Sadie Badger since that job a month ago? In that case, by Jove, they may have been in league in that robbery last night, for all the chief did not think so. It’s mighty strange, if not, that Goulard showed up at just that time and forced the chief under the steps of the very crib this woman was cracking." The coincidence was so remarkable, in fact, if such it really was, that Patsy began to fear that Nick’s subterfuge might in some way miscarry. He turned to the clerk and asked more earnestly: "Have you recently seen this man going there?" "Well, no, not very recently," Steel replied. "Can you recall the last time?" "About a week ago, I think." "Does he always call alone?" "I never have seen him with any one." "Have you ever seen other persons going there?" questioned Patsy. "No, never," Steel said earnestly. "She don’t appear to have any female visitors. Nor any other men, in fact, than the two I have mentioned. If she does, they must call after dark, or when I am out, or--oh, by gracious, that’s odd. A taxicab is stopping there. That old chap may be calling to see her." The taxicab had passed the store while Steel was speaking, and it then had swerved quickly to the curbing in front of Sadie Badger’s flat. Patsy also had noticed it, and had caught sight of its two passengers.