ucin'
you of your own free will to "touch not, taste not, handle not, that
which" _you_ "will perish by the using."' Seems to me as if there was
something in that, sir?" said Blunt, inquiringly.

Sharp nodded assent.

"Then Garvie does not suspect him of being connected with the
robberies?" he asked.

"No," replied Blunt; "but he's a deep file is Davis, and could throw a
sharper man than Garvie off the scent."

After a little further conversation on the subject Mr Sharp dismissed
the pretended porter to his station, and called upon the superintendent
of the police force of Clatterby, from whom he received an addition to
his force of men.

That night he led his men to Gorton station, and when he thought a
suitable hour had arrived, he caused them to surround the block of
buildings in which the men of the station resided. Then, placing Blunt
and two or three men in front of Davis's house, he went up to the door
alone and knocked.

Mrs Davis opened it. She gave the least possible start on observing by
the light of her lobby lamp who her visitor was--for she knew him well.
Mr Sharp took note of the start!

"Good-evening, Mrs Davis," he said.

"Good-evening, sir; this is an unexpected pleasure, Mr Sharp."

"Most of my visits are unexpected, Mrs Davis, but it is only my friends
who count them a pleasure. Is your husband within?"

"He is, sir; pray, walk this way; I'm sure he will be delighted to see
you. Can you stay to supper with us? we are just going to have it."

"No, thank you, Mrs Davis, I'm out on duty to-night," said Sharp,
entering the parlour, where Davis was engaged in reading the newspaper.
"Good-evening, Mr Davis."

Davis rose with a start. Mr Sharp took note of that also.

"Good-evening, Mr Sharp," he said; "sit down, sir; sit down."

"Thank you, I can't sit down. I'm on duty just now. The fact is, Mr
Davis, that I am come to make a search among your men, for we have
obtained reliable information as to who are the thieves at this station.
As, no doubt, _some_ of the men are honest, and might feel hurt at
having their houses searched, I have thought that the best way to
prevent any unpleasant feeling is to begin at the top of the free and go
downwards. They can't say that I have made fish of one and flesh of
another, if I begin, as a mere matter of form, Mr Davis, with
yourself."

"Oh, certainly--certainly, Mr Sharp, by all means," replied Davis.

He spoke with an air of candour, but