l about these things," said Mr. Harrison,
rather tartly.

"Yes. I've been a partner in Punchard's Agency--you know it; we've done
some work for you--for the last two years. I didn't need this kind of
knowledge for my work in India. I only made a special study of forgery
after joining the agency. A private inquiry agency gets such a lot of
it," said Mr. Flexen.

"Well, and if there's an error in these details, where is it? It's not in
the signature itself," said Mr. Harrison.

"Indeed, it is," said Mr. Flexen. "It's an uncommonly good signature too.
The 'Loud' is perfect. But the 'water' gives it away. The forger had
evidently practised it a lot. In fact, he wrote the 'Loud' straight off.
But the 'water' has no less than five distinct pauses in it--under the
microscope, of course--where he paused to think, or perhaps to look at a
genuine signature, the endorsement on the cheque very likely."

Mr. Harrison sniffed ever so faintly, and said: "Of course, I've had
experience of handwriting experts--not very much, thank goodness!--and
you differ among yourselves so. It's any odds that another expert will
find those pauses in quite different places from you, or even no
pauses at all."

Mr. Flexen laughed gently and said: "Perhaps. But he ought not to."

"There you are. And when it comes to a jury," said Mr. Harrison, and he
threw out his hands. "Besides, if you got your experts to agree, you'd
have to show a very strong motive."

"Oh, we've got that--we've got that," said Mr. Carrington with
conviction.

"Well, of course that will make it easier for you to get the jury to
believe your handwriting experts rather than those of the other side,"
said Mr. Harrison, without any enthusiasm. Then he added, with rather
more cheerfulness: "But you never can tell with a jury."

"No; that's true," said Mr. Flexen quickly. "I'm sure we're very much
obliged to you for showing us the letter."

There was nothing more to be done at the bank, and having again thanked
Mr. Harrison, they took their leave of him. He showed no great cordiality
in his leave-taking, he was looking at the matter from the point of view
of the bank. The bank preferred to detect forgeries itself--in time.

As they came into the street, Mr. Carrington rubbed his hands together
and said in a tone of deep satisfaction: "And now for the warrant."

"Warrant for whom?" said Mr. Flexen in a tone of polite inquiry.

"Manley. The sooner that young scoundrel is in g