t shan't lose money by it; that's all I can promise."

"But it's a big one. Gryce, you shall have your way. You'll be the only
loser if you fail; and you will fail; take my word for it."

"I wish I could speak as confidently to the contrary, but I can't. I can
give you my hand though, Inspector, and Sweetwater's thanks. I can meet
the boy now. An hour ago I didn't know how I was to do it."

XV. THAT'S THE QUESTION

"How many times has he seen you?"

"Twice."

"So that he knows your face and figure?"

"I'm afraid so. He cannot help remembering the man who faced him in his
own room."

"That's unfortunate."

"Damned unfortunate; but one must expect some sort of a handicap in a
game like this. Before I'm done with him, he'll look me full in the face
and wonder if he's ever seen me before. I wasn't always a detective. I
was a carpenter once, as you know, and I'll take to the tools again. As
soon as I'm handy with them I'll hunt up lodgings in Hicks Street. He
may suspect me at first, but he won't long; I'll be such a confounded
good workman. I only wish I hadn't such pronounced features. They've
stood awfully in my way, Mr. Gryce. I don't like to talk about my
appearance, but I'm so confounded plain that people remember me. Why
couldn't I have had one of those putty faces which don't mean anything?
It would have been a deuced sight more convenient."

"You've done very well as it is."

"But I want to do better. I want to deceive him to his face. He's
clever, this same Brotherson, and there's glory to be got in making a
fool of him. Do you think it could be done with a beard? I've never worn
a beard. While I'm settling back into my old trade, I can let the hair
grow."

"Do. It'll make you look as weak as water. It'll be blonde, of course."

"And silky and straggling. Charming addition to my beauty. But it'll
take half an inch off my nose, and it'll cover my mouth, which means a
lot in my case. Then my complexion! It must be changed naturally. I'll
consult a doctor about that. No sort of make-believe will go with this
man. If my eyes look weak, they must really be so. If I walk slowly
and speak huskily, it must be because I cannot help it. I can bear the
slight inconvenience of temporary ill-health in a cause like this; and
if necessary the cough will be real, and the headache positive.

"Sweetwater! We'd better give the task to another man--to someone
Brotherson has never seen and won't be suspicious o