re, 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.'

'Without lime,' returned that unmoved barrister-at-law, 'my existence
would be unilluminated by a ray of hope.'

Chapter 13

TRACKING THE BIRD OF PREY

The two lime merchants, with their escort, entered the dominions of
Miss Abbey Potterson, to whom their escort (presenting them and their
pretended business over the half-door of the bar, in a confidential
way) preferred his figurative request that 'a mouthful of fire' might
be lighted in Cosy. Always well disposed to assist the constituted
authorities, Miss Abbey bade Bob Gliddery attend the gentlemen to
that retreat, and promptly enliven it with fire and gaslight. Of this
commission the bare-armed Bob, leading the way with a flaming wisp of
paper, so speedily acquitted himself, that Cosy seemed to leap out of a
dark sleep and embrace them warmly, the moment they passed the lintels
of its hospitable door.

'They burn sherry very well here,' said Mr Inspector, as a piece of
local intelligence. 'Perhaps you gentlemen might like a bottle?'

The answer being By all means, Bob Gliddery received his instructions
from Mr Inspector, and departed in a becoming state of alacrity
engendered by reverence for the majesty of the law.

'It's a certain fact,' said Mr Inspector, 'that this man we have
received our information from,' indicating Riderhood with his thumb over
his shoulder, 'has for some time past given the other man a bad name
arising out of your lime barges, and that the other man has been avoided
in consequence. I don't say what it means or proves, but it's a certain
fact. I had it first from one of the opposite sex of my acquaintance,'
vaguely indicating Miss Abbey with his thumb over his shoulder, 'down
away at a distance, over yonder.'

Then probably Mr Inspector was not quite unprepared for their visit that
evening? Lightwood hinted.

'Well you see,' said Mr Inspector, 'it was a question of making a move.
It's of no use moving if you don't know what your move is. You had
better by far keep still. In the matter of this lime, I certainly had
an idea that it might lie betwixt the two men; I always had that idea.
Still I was forced to wait for