"Where is Dick now?" she asked when he had finished. "Gone with the master to give information to the police. I expect he will come in on his way home; but don’t you think we ought to tell his mother? She may be fidgeting about him." "Yes; I will go round at once." Putting on her hat and jacket, she went out, leaving Jim to wonder if the marked florin would be found in Curly’s possession. A great deal might depend on that. Meanwhile, Dick having piloted the worthy stationer to the tobacconist’s shop, where the shilling was at once identified, accompanied him to the police station. Here they were shown into a sparsely-furnished room, where an inspector sat at a table writing. After Mr. Broad had given an outline of the case, Dick was called on for his story, which he related in the most straightforward and convincing manner. "Simple enough," remarked the police inspector, "especially if we can find the florin;" and, ringing a bell, he ordered the man who answered it to send Pedder to him. Pedder was a short, stout, bull-necked man in plain clothes, who, in answer to his superior, said: "Curly Peters? Oh yes, I know the young gentleman quite well. I’ve been expecting to put my hand on his shoulder for a long time." "And a lad named Bryant?" asked the inspector, reporting Dick’s description of him. Pedder shook his head. "I’ve seen a chap with Curly, but don’t know anything of him, good or bad." "Well, take a man with you and bring them both here. Be sure that Peters has no chance to get rid of any money." "Very good, sir," said Pedder, looking at the clock. "The round trip oughtn’t to take more than half an hour, if I’ve any luck." "Sit down, Mr. Broad—and you, my boy," said the inspector, who immediately resumed his writing, and did not look up again till Mr. Farrant was shown into the room. Five minutes after the half-hour there was a scuffling noise in the passage, the door was thrown open, and in marched Curly Peters and Bryant in the custody of the two plain-clothes policemen. Curly looked about him with easy self-assurance. His companion, on the contrary, was white and trembling, and would have fallen but for the officer’s support. "Search them!" said the inspector briefly. "You won’t find anything on me but my own money," said Curly defiantly. "I’ve only a two-shilling piece, which I worked hard enough for, too. I earned it yesterday, carrying boxes on the quay." "You’d better keep a still tongue," advised the inspector gruffly. "All you say may be used as evidence against you." "I ain’t afraid of telling the truth," responded Curly boldly. Presently the search was over, and Dick heaved a sigh of satisfaction when Pedder placed a florin on the table. Bryant’s share of the plunder had dwindled to twopence halfpenny. "Can you identify this coin, Mr. Broad?" "Yes," said the stationer, after examining it carefully; "here is my private mark quite plain."