"'Sophy saw him walking away,' said our reporter; 'but to satisfy you I will go into every room; and I'll do something more, if you are agreeable. Could you make me up a bed?' "'Yes, sir, I could, in any room you like.' "'M. Felix's bedroom will do for me. Don't look startled; I am almost as brave as Sophy. Put the bed straight, and I'll come some time between eleven and twelve o'clock, and pass the night here.' "Mrs. Middlemore was profuse in her thanks, and our reporter searched the house from top to bottom. Assuring the housekeeper that she was quite safe, he succeeded in making his escape." CHAPTER XXI. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. "He had taken mental note of the name of the firm at which the suit of clothes which had been found in the river was purchased, and he went direct to that establishment in Tottenham Court Road. It happened, fortunately, that business was slack at that time of the day, and as customers were few and far between he had little difficulty in obtaining an interview with the manager, who, when he heard that our reporter was engaged upon the _Evening Moon_, gave him his entire attention. "'It's the smartest paper in London,' said the manager; 'I take it in regularly.' "'I should like you to treat the matter I have come upon as private between you and me. We are interested in a certain case which may or may not be made public, and in which, perhaps, you can assist us in an indirect way. If it prove to be so your establishment will get an advertisement for nothing.' "'We shall be glad to get it,' said the manager. 'A good word from you gentlemen of the press is always acceptable. I dare say you notice we advertise in your paper. Tell me what I can do for you.' "'I wish to ascertain, confidentially, under what circumstances a certain suit of clothes was purchased in your establishment. All the clothing you sell is marked with your name, is it not?' "'Yes, wherever we can get it in. There are some things that cannot be marked, but suits of clothes can; coats on the bands they are hung up by, waistcoats on the inner lining, trousers on the waistbands. What kind of a suit was it, and on what day was it purchased?' "'I cannot name the day exactly, but say within the last two or three weeks. It was a suit of tweed.' "'Can you identify the pattern?' "'Yes, if you will let me see samples of your stock.' "'I will show you what we have.' "They looked through a wonderful assortment of men's clothing, but our reporter saw none exactly similar to the pattern he wished to identify. "'Was it a suit for a large or a small man?' inquired the manager. "'For a small man; almost what you would call a youth's suit.' "'What you have seen is principally our new stock; we have some others which our salesmen endeavor to get rid of; we don't like to keep old stock too long on our hands.' "They went through other departments, and at length, on one of the upper shelves, our reporter pointed to a pattern he thought he recognized.