w that this manuscript
existed? Will they believe what you tell me?"

"Mr. Jeeves," I said, "cannot suspect a fellow-townsman, whose character
is as high as mine, of untruth and theft. And to whom else have you
communicated the facts connected with a memoir and a request of so
extraordinary a nature?"

"To young Margrave; I told you so!"

"True, true. We need not go farther to find the thief. Margrave has been
in this house more than once. He knows the position of the rooms. You
have named the robber!"

"Tut! what on earth could a gay young fellow like Margrave want with
a work of such dry and recondite nature as I presume my poor kinsman's
memoir must be?"

I was about to answer, when the door was abruptly opened, and the
servant-girl entered, followed by two men, in whom I recognized the
superintendent of the L---- police and the same subordinate who had
found me by Sir Philip's corpse.

The superintendent came up to me with a grave face, and whispered in my
ear. I did not at first comprehend him. "Come with you," I said, "and to
Mr. Vigors, the magistrate? I thought my deposition was closed."

The superintendent shook his head. "I have the authority here, Dr.
Fenwick."

"Well, I will come, of course. Has anything new transpired?"

The superintendent turned to the servant-girl, who was standing with
gaping mouth and staring eyes.

"Show us Dr. Fenwick's room. You had better put up, sir, whatever things
you have brought here. I will go upstairs with you," he whispered again.
"Come, Dr. Fenwick, I am in the discharge of my duty."

Something in the man's manner was so sinister and menacing that I felt
at once that some new and strange calamity had befallen me. I turned
towards Strahan. He was at the threshold, speaking in a low voice to
the subordinate policeman, and there was an expression of amazement and
horror in his countenance. As I came towards him he darted away without
a word.

I went up the stairs, entered my bedroom, the superintendent close
behind me. As I took up mechanically the few things I had brought
with me, the police-officer drew them from me with an abruptness that
appeared insolent, and deliberately searched the pockets of the coat
which I had worn the evening before, then opened the drawers in the
room, and even pried into the bed.

"What do you mean?" I asked haughtily.

"Excuse me, sir. Duty. You are-"

"Well, I am what?"

"My prisoner; here is the warrant."

"Warrant! on