sidents had gradually sunk in the world to the
condition of tenement-houses, and now was on the upward grade again,
being let in floors to the smaller sort of manufacturers, and to such
agents and small commercial men as required cheap offices. No. 8 was
much like the rest. A packing-case maker had the ground-floor, as Moon
had said, and a token of his trade, in the shape of a new packing-case,
stood on the pavement. The rest of the building showed nothing
distinctive.

"There y'are, gents," said Mr. Moon, "if you want to watch, you're
welcome, bein' the p'lice, which I allus does my best for, allus. But
you'll have to excuse me now, 'cos o' the bar."

Mr. Moon stumped off downstairs, leaving Plummer and myself watching at
the window.

"Your friend the publican seems very proud of helping the police," I
remarked.

Plummer laughed. "Yes," he said, "or at any rate, he is anxious we
shan't forget it. You see, it's in some way a matter of mutual
accommodation. We make things as easy as possible for him on licensing
days, and as he has a pretty extensive acquaintance among the sort of
people we often want to get hold of, he has been able to show his
gratitude very handsomely once or twice."

The house on which our eyes were fixed was a little too far up the
street for us to see perfectly through the window of the second-floor,
though we could see enough to indicate that it was furnished as an
office. We agreed that the unknown second-floor tenant was more likely
to be our customer, or connected with him, than either of the others.
Still, we much desired a nearer view, and presently, since the coast
seemed clear, Plummer announced his intention of taking one.

He left me at the post of observation, and presently I saw him lounging
along on the other side of the way, keeping close to the houses, so as
to escape observation from the upper windows. He took a good look at the
names on the door-post of No. 8, and presently stepped within.

I waited five or six minutes, and then saw him returning as he had come.

"It's the top floors we want," he said, when he rejoined me in Mr.
Moon's sitting-room. "The packing-case maker is genuine enough, and very
busy. So is the fancy-goods agent. I went in, seeing the door wide open,
and found the agent, a little, shop-walkery sort of chap, hard at work
with his clerk among piles of cardboard boxes. I wouldn't go further, in
case I were spotted. Do you think you'd be cool enough to do