The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-29
a Let me see ,eT,. sir. that's all / want, /"

ct Is not Bowles 7" said /, appealingly;
ado not say IL is Bowles y; but, although
II agitated me beyond measure to think
that should have to trust new butler
with all my new plate, confess that had
horrible idea that it ,cdS Bowles.
al think not" said the detective quiet
". "Let me see the other men," L
turned the gaslight over the door as high
as it would 60, and called them both into
the hall.
at is not them," said he. What
other men have you in the house 7"
"None but my guests" said |, "here IN
the dining-room."
"Do you know them all very we'll, sir ?
Are none of them mere acquaintance or
neighbors ?"
"Well," returned I, with hesitation, and
feeling very glad that Mrs. Matcham was
not third party to this interview,
know some better than Others"
"Just So" said the detective quietly
"then must see them."
This was shocking proposal, and made
me feel hot all over; but was not going to
run any risk with those shield-shaped sal
vers. Major Pinckney, l now remembered
had expressed great wish to examine
them, and perhaps that fact had some
weight in my inviting him to dinner. Who
the deuce Major Pinckney was-except
that he belonged to my club certainly
knew no more than the detective, and
perhaps great deal less. Still it seemed
a very base thing to open the dining room
door, and let this fellow scrutinize my
guests, in hopes to find a scoundrel among
them.
upon my life, Mr.. Detective" said I,
I" can't do it."
every right, sir-vcry natural" replied
he, smiling in hisquiet way. "It would never
do, would it But look you, sir Pm a
waiter-a hired waiter. Who is TO know
that have not business at your sideboard
In one minute | could run my eye over the
whole lot, and spot my man, if he's there
as sure as taxes"
did not like even this arrangement
but still it seemed the only thing to be
done. SO, sending for Bowles, arranged
with him the plan of proceeding, and re-
turned to the dining-room. My feelings
are not to be described, when, a few mi
nutcs afterwards, sitting at the head of the
table, heard the door open, and knew the
detective was in the room. He was much
longer at the sideboard than he had pro-
missed to be, and every hair on my head
seemed to stand upright all the time. Sup
pose he should suddenly fall on Major
Pinckney and cry, This is my man s"
Nay, suppose Colonel Twankay himself
should prove to be the offender! seemed
to have lost all confidence in my fellow
creatures. After a period of anxiety no
measure of time could indicate, the sup
posed waiter took his departure.
/" You've got a new man, see" said Dir.
Twistie carelessly; with so much plate
about, hope you are satisfied about bis
honesty"
| was exceedingly glad to find old Twis-
tie wa honest, and had not been taken by
the shI:t frill id walked off to Bow street ;
hr' g.! course | did not tell him that.
Please, sir, you're wanted again. "
whispered Bowlcs, as he brought in another
bottle of claret.
off the kitchen chimney is on fire, | am
glad we have dineI," observed the Major
good humoredly. off l can be of service,
pray command me-"
| did not inform him what q relief il was
to me that he was not wanted, but remark
ing that it was only little domestic mat
ter, once more sought the inspector.
"The one I'm after is not among them,
sir, so far as know" observed this official,
Jerking his thumb in the direction of the
dining care you sure there are no
more men in your house besides those |
have SEEM"
eyes," said /, "there are no more"
"Then, now, l must have a look at the
ladies'"
"The ladies'" cried I, aghast at this
proposal. You don't want to go into the
dining -rOom?"
at would be more satisfactory" OBJ
served the detective, coolly. "My infor-
nation is very reliable. But, at all events,
who is there ?"
"Well," said I, "my wife is there, for
one you have no information against her,
suppose ?"
He nodded satisfaction so far.
"Then there's the Hon. Mrs. Matcham
and her daughter"
"Safe," rejoined the detective, checking
them off on his fingers.
"MrS. Twistie, of Regalia Square, and
Lady Bobbington."
81 suppose they're all right" remarked
my inquistor, doubtfully. care you sure
there are no more I"
"Theres my mother-in law, but she's
in her own room, and exceedingly unwell.
every good" observed the detective
inconsequentially. "There's Plant some
where in this house, however; you may
take your oath Of that, and very likely in
the last place where you would ever look
for it so now | must see the maids"
1t was astonishing even to myself in
what complete subjugation this man had
placed me. Once, and only once, a terri
bic misgiving seized mel was as full OF
suspicious by this time as porcupine oil
quills, and darted them in as many direc-
tions-that the detective himself was a
Plant" that would presently blossom
into a burglar but my overtaXed mind
refused to bare this burden. If it was
so, | would trust to his clemency to
leave me a silver fork or two to car
nv on the business Of life. If this
man turned out to be anything less than
what he described himself to be, all au-
thorty would heuceforth lose its effect
with me. If Solomon had ever had to dc
with a metropolitan detective, he would
never have spoken so slightly of mankind
had read of the grasp of the law" in
works of fiction, but had never under
stood the tremendous nature of that figure
until felt this gentleman's knuckles me.
taphorically) inserted in white cravat. He
had to repeat, $50 now l must see the
maids" in his undenable manner, before
| could collect myself sufficiently to lead
the way to the kitchen-a spot to which
should not alone have ventured to penetrate
To say that the cook and the kitcheDmaid