Mr. Inspector replied, with due generality and reticence, that it was always more likely that a man had done a bad thing than that he hadn’t. That he himself had several times “reckoned up” Gaffer, but had never been able to bring him to a satisfactory criminal total. That if this story was true, it was only in part true. That the two men, very shy characters, would have been jointly and pretty equally “in it”; but that this man had “spotted” the other, to save himself and get the money.

“And I think,” added Mr. Inspector, in conclusion, “that if all goes well with him, he’s in a tolerable way of getting it. But as this is the Fellowships, gentlemen, where the lights are, I recommend dropping the subject. You can’t do better than be interested in some lime works anywhere down about Northfleet, and doubtful whether some of your lime don’t get into bad company as it comes up in barges.”

“You hear Eugene?” said Lightwood, over his shoulder. “You are deeply interested in lime.”