ner with a somewhat amused expression.
"No, sir, I don't think it could. No doubt it might kill itself with
much facility in various ways, for fifty horsepower, properly applied,
would do for an elephant, much more a dog. But I don't believe that
power to be sufficient to produce annihilation. There would have been
remains of some sort."

From the engine-room our detective proceeded to the boiler-room and the
various kitchens, and thence to the basement of the old building on the
opposite side of the street, where he found a similarly perplexing
labyrinth. He was taken in hand here by Mr Bright, who chanced to be
on duty, and led him first to the Stamp Department. There was much to
draw him off his "canine" mania here. First he was introduced to the
chief of the department, who gave him much interesting information about
stamps in general.

Then he was conducted to another room, and shown the tables at which men
were busy counting sheets of postage-stamps and putting them up in
envelopes for all parts of the United Kingdom. The officer in charge
told him that the weight of stamps sent out from that room averaged a
little over three tons daily, and that the average value of the weekly
issue was 150,000 pounds. Then he was led into a fireproof safe--a
solid stone apartment--which was piled from floor to ceiling with sheets
of postage-stamps of different values. Those for letters ranged from
one halfpenny to one pound, but those used for telegrams ran up to as
much as five pounds sterling for a single stamp. Taking down from a
shelf a packet of these high-priced stamps, which was about the size of
a thick octavo book, the official stated that it was worth 35,000
pounds.

"Yes, sir," he added, "this strong box of ours holds a deal of money.
You are at this moment in the presence of nearly two millions sterling!"

"A tidy little sum to retire upon. Would build two thousand Board
Schools at a thousand pounds each," said the detective, who was an adept
at figures,--as at everything else.

Feeling that it would be ridiculous to inquire about mad dogs in the
presence of two millions sterling, the man in grey suffered himself to
be led through long passages and vaulted chambers, some of which latter
were kitchens, where the men on duty had splendid fires, oceans of hot
water, benches and tables, and liberty to cook the food either brought
by themselves for the day or procured from a caterer on the premises--
for