Publisher's Synopsis
Superintendent Dolan went quietly to the door; by a sort of natural understanding he hadtaken possession of affairs in the room. The rest of us waited. He opened the door a little way;and then with a gesture of manifest relief threw it wide, and a young man stepped in. A youngman clean-shaven, tall and slight; with an eagle face and bright, quick eyes that seemed to take ineverything around him at a glance. As he came in, the Superintendent held out his hand; the twomen shook hands warmly."I came at once, sir, the moment I got your message. I am glad I still have your confidence.""That you'll always have," said the Superintendent heartily. "I have not forgotten our oldBow Street days, and I never shall!" Then, without a word of preliminary, he began to telleverything he knew up to the moment of the newcomer's entry. Sergeant Daw asked a fewquestions-a very few-when it was necessary for his understanding of circumstances or therelative positions of persons; but as a rule Dolan, who knew his work thoroughly, forestalledevery query, and explained all necessary matters as he went on. Sergeant Daw threwoccasionally swift glances round him; now at one of us; now at the room or some part of it; nowat the wounded man lying senseless on the sofa.When the Superintendent had finished, the Sergeant turned to me and said: "Perhaps you remember me, sir. I was with you in that Hoxton case.""I remember you very well," I said as I held out my hand. The Superintendent spoke again: "You understand, Sergeant Daw, that you are put in full charge of this case.""Under you I hope, sir," he interrupted. The other shook his head and smiled as he said: "It seems to me that this is a case that will take all a man's time and his brains. I have otherwork to do; but I shall be more than interested, and if I can help in any possible way I shall beglad to do so!""All right, sir," said the other, accepting his responsibility with a sort of modified salute;straightway he began his investigation.