wo men, I never felt more miserable in my life.
But, of course, we read all about the truth of it next afternoon in the
evening paper. One can hardly believe such things possible in these
times with our efficient police."

"Ye-es,"--I hesitated, with my mind on the thick necks and
whisky-drinking proclivities of some of the "'tecs" I had known,--"I
suppose we can never rely upon _absolute_ safety in this world."

Then as I spoke a thought struck me; I noticed that the packets were
rather bulging out in the pocket in which I had placed them. I had an
idea I would change their position. I quickly took them out and placed
one in each of my trousers pockets; there was then nothing in my
appearance to denote where they were. In the result, it was a very
lucky thing I had taken this precaution.

To preserve the secret of their whereabouts, I kept my hand in the
breast of my travelling coat as if I were guarding the precious parcels
there, and in this way I left the lawyers' office and made for the
motor-brougham, the door of which was being held open by my man Brooks.

Just as I was half-way across the pavement, a man selling evening
papers came rushing by and shouting--

"'Orrible murder! Suicide of the assassin! 'Orrible murder!"

He was running very fast and apparently not looking where he was going,
for he knocked roughly against me as he passed, dislodging my hand from
my breast; but Brooks he ran right into, full tilt, with the result
that my man lost his balance and sprawled on the pavement.

It was then that a very fussy little over-dressed man came bustling up
out of the fog, accompanied by a very attractive lady.

"A more disgraceful thing, sir," he said, addressing me, "I have never
seen before. I trust you are not hurt, sir?"

"No, thank you, I'm all right," I answered, half inclined to laugh at
Brooks scrambling up from the pavement and brushing himself, for it was
a wet, slimy day and the pavements muddy. The newspaper man had
disappeared.

"Why, I declare," exclaimed the little man, "the scamp has covered you
with mud!"

I looked down; there certainly was a splash of mud on the front of my
coat. I wondered how it had got there. Despite my assertions, the
two--both the lady and the gentleman--insisted on brushing me, until in
very desperation I had to get into the brougham out of their way. Then
they suddenly made me very polite bows and disappeared.

Brooks mounted the box, and we rattl