'That is easily given. You may know Mr. Lumley, the Professor of Toxicology in the University here?' 'I have met him often on matters of our business.' 'He is an old college friend of mine, and can remove any doubts you may entertain. His wife is a tall woman luckily,' added Merton to himself, much to the chief's bewilderment. 'Mr. Lumley's word would quite satisfy me,' said the chief. 'Very well, pray lend me your attention. This affair--' 'The body snatching at Kirkburn?' asked the chief. 'Exactly,' said Merton. 'This affair is very well organised. Your house is probably being observed. Now what I propose is _this_. I can go nowhere dressed as I am. You will, if you please, first send a constable, in uniform, to your house with orders to wait till you return. Next, I shall dress, by your permission, in any spare uniform you may have here and in that costume I shall leave this office and accompany you to your house in a closed cab. You will enter it, bring out a hat and cloak, come into the cab, and I shall put them on, leaving my policeman's helmet in the cab, which will wait. Then, minutes later, the constable will come out, take the cab, and drive to any police office you please. Once within your house, I shall exchange my uniform for any old evening suit you may be able to lend me, and, when your guests have departed, you and I will drive together to Professor Lumley's, where he will identify me. After that, my course is perfectly clear, and I need give you no further trouble.' 'It is too complicated, sir,' said the chief, smiling. 'I don't know your name?' 'Merton,' said our hero, 'and yours?' 'Macnab. I can lend you a plain suit of morning clothes from here, and we don't want the stratagem of the constable. You don't even need the extra trouble of putting on evening dress in my house.' 'How very fortunate,' said Merton, and in a quarter of an hour he was attired as a simple citizen, and was driving to the house of Mr. Macnab. Here he was merely introduced to the guests--it was a men's party--as a gentleman from England on business. The guests had too much tact to tarry long, and by eleven o'clock the chief and Merton were ringing at the door bell of Professor Lumley. The servant knew both of them, and ushered them into the professor's study. He was reading examination papers. Mrs. Lumley had not returned from a party. Lumley greeted Merton warmly. 'I am passing through Edinburgh, and thought I might find you at home,' Merton said. 'Mr. Macnab,' said Lumley, shaking hands with the chief, 'you have not taken my friend into custody?' 'No, professor; Mr. Merton will tell you that he is released, and I'll be going home.' 'You won't stop and smoke?' 'No, I should be _de trop_,' answered the chief; 'good night, professor; good night, Mr. Merton.' 'But the broken window?' 'Oh, we'll settle that, and let you have the bill.' Merton gave his club address, and the chief shook hands and departed.