“I have been connected with Scotland Yard for some years now, and had a tolerable experience in America too, and I don’t think I have felt so helpless as I do in this business; so I called in to say good-bye, and wish you well through the case.” “Don’t go for a few minutes,” said the superintendent: “rather a singular disappearance of bank notes has been reported to me just now; you may like to hear the story; being here on spec, you know, and not a very successful spec, perhaps you might like to try your hand at another case.” The speaker smiled a little sarcastically, but as much as to say, having beaten your head off in this Montem business, I can afford to be generous. “All right,” said Bales; “better luck next time.” “Will you hear about this note job?” “Certainly,” said Bales. Whereupon three gentlemen entered the room. The first, a fat, fussy little man, said he was the proprietor of the Brazencrook Music Hall; that half an hour ago he went to the Old Bank to pay in three hundred pounds. It consisted of a miscellaneous roll of notes. He pushed the money upon the counter towards the receiver in the usual way; and at that moment “this gentleman,” pointing to the Rev. Thomas Barnes, curate of All Souls, asked him a question about some subscription to a fund for a poor family formerly in his employ, and when he turned round the money was gone. The second speaker was the receiving clerk at the bank, who said when Mr. Flooks came in he noticed that the gentleman pushed a parcel upon the counter; but when he laid down his pen to take it there was no money to be seen. “What were you doing when Mr. Flooks entered the bank?” asked the chief of police. “I was casting up some figures.” “Did you attend to Mr. Flooks at once?” “I did not; I finished my casting first.” “Did you see the notes on the counter?” “I saw something which appeared to be a bundle of notes.” “When did you know the money was gone, Mr. Flooks?” “As soon as I turned round. I expected the receiver had taken it up, but he said, ‘Where’s the money?’” “And there were only you and Mr. Barnes here in the bank at the time?” “That’s all,” said Flooks. “And did nobody come in and go out?” Upon this point there was a little difference of opinion. The curate believed a person passed out whilst he was speaking to Mr. Flooks. The cashier also thought a man came in and went out again. When it was discovered that the notes were gone, careful investigation was made by the manager of the bank on the spot, and a search was instituted, which had been considered rather offensive by the receiver; but the money was gone, and here the story ended. “Have you the numbers and description of the notes, Mr. Flooks?” “No; I very seldom take any precautions of that kind about notes, because I always make a point of paying all cash into the bank myself.”