SNOW. Good evening, sir; good evening, ma'am. I 've called round to report what I 've done, rather late, I 'm afraid--another case took me away. [He takes the silver box out o f his pocket, causing a sensation in the BARTHWICK family.] This is the identical article, I believe. BARTHWICK. Certainly, certainly. SNOW. Havin' your crest and cypher, as you described to me, sir, I 'd no hesitation in the matter. BARTHWICK. Excellent. Will you have a glass of [he glances at the waning port]--er--sherry-[pours out sherry]. Jack, just give Mr. Snow this. [JACK rises and gives the glass to SNOW; then, lolling in his chair, regards him indolently.] SNOW. [Drinking off wine and putting down the glass.] After seeing you I went round to this woman's lodgings, sir. It's a low neighborhood, and I thought it as well to place a constable below --and not without 'e was wanted, as things turned out. BARTHWICK. Indeed! SNOW. Yes, Sir, I 'ad some trouble. I asked her to account for the presence of the article. She could give me no answer, except to deny the theft; so I took her into custody; then her husband came for me, so I was obliged to take him, too, for assault. He was very violent on the way to the station--very violent--threatened you and your son, and altogether he was a handful, I can till you. MRS. BARTHWICK. What a ruffian he must be! SNOW. Yes, ma'am, a rough customer. JACK. [Sipping his mine, bemused.] Punch the beggar's head. SNOW. Given to drink, as I understand, sir. MRS. BARTHWICK. It's to be hoped he will get a severe punishment. SNOW. The odd thing is, sir, that he persists in sayin' he took the box himself. BARTHWICK. Took the box himself! [He smiles.] What does he think to gain by that? SNOW. He says the young gentleman was intoxicated last night [JACK stops the cracking of a nut, and looks at SNOW.] [BARTHWICK, losing his smile, has put his wine-glass down; there is a silence--SNOW, looking from face to face, remarks] --took him into the house and gave him whisky; and under the influence of an empty stomach the man says he took the box. MRS. BARTHWICK. The impudent wretch! BARTHWICK. D' you mean that he--er--intends to put this forward to-morrow? SNOW. That'll be his line, sir; but whether he's endeavouring to shield his wife, or whether [he looks at JACK] there's something in it, will be for the magistrate to say. MRS. BARTHWICK. [Haughtily.] Something in what? I don't understand you. As if my son would bring a man like that into the house! BARTHWICK. [From the fireplace, with an effort to be calm.] My son can speak for himself, no doubt. Well, Jack, what do you say? MRS. BARTHWICK. [Sharply.] What does he say? Why, of course, he says the whole story's stuff! JACK. [Embarrassed.] Well, of course, I--of course, I don't know anything about it. MRS. BARTHWICK. I should think not, indeed! [To Snow.] The man is an audacious ruffian!