n again, if we can help it."

Jones promised his aid, and offered to go at once to the police. To
this, however, Mr Grey demurred, saying that he should himself seek
assistance from some magistrate. Jones promised to be very vigilant
as to watching the door; and then John Grey sat down to his
breakfast. Of course he thought much of what had occurred. It was
impossible that he should not think much of so narrow an escape.
He had probably been as near death as a man may well be without
receiving any injury; and the more he thought of it, the more
strongly he was convinced that he could not allow the thing to pass
by without some notice, or some precaution as to the future.

At eleven o'clock he went to Scotland Yard, and saw some
officer great in power over policemen, and told him all the
circumstances,--confidentially. The powerful officer recommended an
equally confidential reference to a magistrate; and towards evening
a very confidential policeman in plain clothes paid a visit to
Vavasor's lodgings in Cecil Street. But Vavasor lodged there no
longer. Mrs Bunsby, who was also very confidential,--and at her wits'
end because she could not learn the special business of the stranger
who called,--stated that Mr George Vavasor left her house in a cab
at ten o'clock that morning, having taken with him such luggage as
he had packed, and having gone, "she was afraid, for good," as Mrs
Bunsby expressed it.

He had gone for good, and at the moment in which the policeman was
making the inquiry in Cecil Street, was leaning over the side of an
American steamer which had just got up her steam and weighed her
anchor in the Mersey. He was on board at six o'clock, and it was not
till the next day that the cabman was traced who had carried him to
Euston Square Station. Of course, it was soon known that he had gone
to America, but it was not thought worth while to take any further
steps towards arresting him. Mr Grey himself was decidedly opposed to
any such attempt, declaring his opinion that his own evidence would
be insufficient to obtain a conviction. The big men in Scotland Yard
were loth to let the matter drop. Their mouths watered after the job,
and they had very numerous and very confidential interviews with John
Grey. But it was decided that nothing should be done. "Pity!" said
one enterprising superintendent, in answer to the condolings of a
brother superintendent. "Pity's no name for it. It's the greatest
shame as ever I k