it. Along one particular line, however, that brain,
otherwise so dull, was even rapid in its movements. It was Mr. Furze's
practice to pay wages at half-past five on Saturday afternoon, and he
paid them himself. He generally went to his tea at six on that day, Tom
waiting till he returned. On the following Saturday at half-past six Jim
came into the shop.

"I met Eaton's man a minute ago as I wur goin' 'ome. He wanted to see
the guvnor particklar, he said."

This was partly true, but the "particklar" was not true.

"I told him the guvnor warn't in, but you was there. He said he was
goin' to the Bell, but he'd call again if he had time. You'd better go
and see wot it is."

Tom took off his black apron and his shop coat and waistcoat, put them up
in the usual place, and went out, leaving Jim in charge. Jim instantly
went to the till. There were several sovereigns in it, for it had been a
busy day. He turned them over, and again recognised the indubitable
cross. With a swift promptitude utterly beyond his ordinary self, he
again went to Tom's waistcoat--Tom always put gold in his waistcoat
pocket--took out a sovereign of the thirty shillings there, put it in his
own pocket, and replaced it by the marked sovereign. Just before the
shop closed, the cash was taken to Mr. Furze. He tied it carefully in a
bag, carried it home, turned it over, and the sovereign was absent.
Meanwhile Orkid Jim had begun to reflect that the chain of evidence was
not complete. He knew Tom's habits perfectly, and one of them was to buy
his Sunday's dinner on Saturday night. He generally went to a small
butcher near his own house. Jim followed him, having previously
exchanged his own sovereign for twenty shillings in silver. As soon as
Tom had left the butcher's shop Jim walked in. He was well known.

"Mr. Butterfield, you 'aven't got a sovereign, 'ave you, as you could
give me for twenty shillings in silver?"

"Well, that's a rum 'un, Mr. Jim: generally it's t'other way: you want
the silver for the gold. Besides, we don't take many sovereigns here--we
ain't like people in the High Street."

"Mr. Butterfield, it's jist this: we've 'ad overwork at the guvnor's, and
I'm a-goin' to put a sovereign by safe come next Whitsuntide, when I'm a-
goin' to enjoy myself. I don't get much enjoyment, Mr. Butterfield, but
I mean to 'ave it then."

"All right, Mr. Jim. I've only two sovereigns, and there they are.
There's a bran-new one