"Upthatsedroado-hahenacrossthesquare，"saidtheotherpromptly。
"Thanks，"repliedValentin，andvanishedlikeafairy。Ohersideofthesedsquarehefoundapolidsaid，"Thisisurgent，stable，haveyouseentwymes?"
Thepolibegantochuckleheavily。"Ihave，sir;andifyouaskme，ohemwasdruoodinthemiddleoftheroadthatbewilderedthat。。。
"Whichwaydidtheygo?"sin。
"Theytookoneofyellowbusesoverthere，"aheman，"themthatgotoHampstead。"
&inproducedhisofficialdsaidveryrapidly，"Calluptwoofyourmehmeinpursuit，"aheroadwithsutagiythattheponderouspoliwasmovedtoalmostagileobedienaminuteandahalftheFreivewasjoiepavementbyaorandamaninplainclothes。
"Well，sir，"begantheformer，withsmilingimporta;andwhatmay。。。"
&inpoihhise。"I'lltellyouohatomnibus，"hesaid，andwasdartinganddodgingacrossthetaraffiallthreesankpantisoftheyellowvehicle，theiorsaid，"Weesasquiataxi。"
"Quitetrue，"repliedtheirleaderplacidly，"ifweonlyhadanideaoferegoing。"
"Well，whereareyougoing?"askedthe。
&insmlyforafewse，removinghiscigarette，hesaid，"Ifyouknowwhataman'sdoiinfrontofhim;butifyouwahe'sdoing，keepbehindhim。Straywherays;stopwheravelasslowlyashe。Thenyoumayseewhathesawandmayactasheacted。Allwedoistokeepoureyesskinnedf。"
"Whatsortdoyoumean?"askedtheior。
"Anysort，"ain，aoobstinatesilence。
Theyellowomnibuscrawledupthenorthernroadsforwhatseemedlikehoursodetectivewouldnotexplainfurther，andperhapshisassistaasilentandgrowingdoubtofhiserrand。Perhaps，also，theyfeltasilentandgrowingdesireforlunch，forthehpastthenormallunhour，andthelongroadsoftheNorthLondonsuburbsseemedtoshootoutierlengthlikeaelescope。ItwasohosejourneysonetuallyfeelsthatnowatlasthemusthaveetotheendoftheuhenfindshehasohebeginningofTufnellPark。Londondiedawayiavernsanddrearysdthenwasunatablybaininblazinghighstreetsandblataassingthroughthirteeevulgarcitiesalljusttougeachother。Butthoughtheasalreadythreateningtheroadaheadofthem，theParisiaillsatsilentandwatchful，eyeiageofthestreetsthatslidbyoherside。BythetimetheyhadleftTowhepoliwerenearlyasleep;atleast，theygavesomethinglikeajumpasVale，strudonea'sshoulder，ahedrivertostop。
&umbleddowheroadwithwhytheyhadbeeheylookedrhteheyfouriumphantlypointinghisfioosideoftheroad。Itwasalargewindpartofthelongfacadeofagiltandpalatialpublic-house;itartreservedforrespeing，a;Restaurant。"Thiswiherestaleofthehotel，wasoffrostedandfiguredglass;butinthemiddleofitwasabig，blacksmash，likeastarintheice。
"Ourcueatlast，"criedValentin，wavinghisstick，"theplacewiththebrokenwindow。"
"hatcue?"askedhisprincipalassistant。"roofistherethatthishasanythingtodowiththem?"
&inalmostbrokehisbamboostick>
"Proof!"hecried。"GoodGod!themanislookingforproof!Why，ofcourse，thecesaretwehassomethingtodowiththem。Butwhatelsewedo?Don'tyouseewemusteitherfollowonewildpossibilityohometobed?"Hebangedhiswayi，followedbyhispanions，andtheyweresooalatelualittletable，ahestarofsmashedglassfromtheiitwasveryihemeventhen。
"Gotyourwindowbroke;saidValentierashepaidthebill。
"Yes，sir，"aendant，bendingbusilyoverthege，towhitilyaddedaip。Thewaiterstraightehmildbutunmistakableanimation。
"Ah，yes，sir，"hesaid。"Veryoddthing，that，sir。"
"Iellusaboutit，"saidthedetectivewithcarelesscuriosity。
"Well，twogentsinbla，"saidthewaiter，"twoofthnparsonsthatarerunningabout。Theyhadadquietlittleluneofthempaidforitaheotherwasjustgoingouttojoinhimwhemychargeagainandfoundhe'dpaidmemorethaoomuch。'Here，'Isaystothechapwhowasofthedoor，'you'vepaidtoomuch。''Oh，'hesays，verycool，'havewe?''Yes，'Isays，andpicksupthebilltoshowhim。Well，thatwasaknock-out。"
"Whatdoyoumean?"askedhisior。
"Well，I'dhaveswornonseveI'dput4s。onthatbill。ButnowIsawI'dput14s。，asplainaspaint。"
"Well?"criedValentin，movingslowly，butwithbur;a;