Smoothing her ruffled finery and assuming a delicately sarcastic tone, she thus delivered herself: ‘I’ll go, Mr. Duck—I don’t want to be pushed out; but I shall call again—_not_ to see you, sir. I shall instruct Messrs. Grigg and Limpet to commence two actions at once, one for breach of promise against you, Mr. Duck, and one for deformation of character against you, Miss Duck; which you, ma’am,’ she added, turning to Miss Jackson, ‘will be a witness as this person have said vile and ojus things about me.’ ‘Oh,’ moaned Miss Jackson, ‘don’t make me a witness! Oh, I would rather cut my right hand off than let it go into a court of justice against my dearest friend!’ ‘Don’t be a fool, Carry!’ said Miss Duck curtly. ‘Jabez, show that old woman out, or I’ll go to the firm. I won’t be insulted by a servant any longer.’ Jabez had adroitly got Mrs. Turvey out of earshot, so that Georgina’s last arrow missed its mark. He was some minutes before he returned. In the interests of peace he apologized to Mrs. Turvey, said his sister was to blame, and vowed on his honour to behave like a gentleman if Mrs. Turvey would only give him time. Mrs. Turvey allowed herself to be mollified so far as Jabez was concerned, but departed vowing the fiercest vengeance against his ‘stuck-up minx of a sister.’ Georgina, when she had given her brother a thorough setting down over the Turvey incident, informed him of the visit of the police and the discovery of the Smiths’ real character. Jabez for a time refused to believe it, but the evidence which his sister produced was circumstantial. Already his employers had discovered the forgery of which they had been the victims, and Jabez connected the two events. When he got home that evening the same detective who had searched the rooms called to see him, and requested him to say nothing about the affair to any one for the present. The reason he gave was that there was no knowing who belonged to the gang, and if it once got about that the police were on the track the others would keep out of the way. In the hope of making a complete haul, the police for the present would take no steps to arrest the fugitive. If he was left alone, and not allowed to know that he was suspected, he would probably join some other members of the gang. Jabez listened to this explanation and promised to hold his peace, and also to allow the things found in the room occupied by George to be taken to Scotland Yard. The officer who had charge of the case was Sergeant Iveson, a well-favoured, middle-aged man, who looked like a country gentleman, and Jabez had every confidence in him. The officer also went to Grigg and Limpet, and received from them the forged cheque. They also agreed to take no steps which would clash with those arranged by Sergeant Iveson, who had sole charge of the case. Late that evening Sergeant Iveson and Mr. Seth Preene met by accident, and what more natural than that they should have a little conversation?