, the mechanic had
vanished. The sailor was taken off to his room. Not knowing what to do
next, Gooseberry had the wisdom to wait and see if anything happened.
Something did happen. The landlord was called for. Angry voices were
heard up-stairs. The mechanic suddenly made his appearance again,
collared by the landlord, and exhibiting, to Gooseberry's great
surprise, all the signs and tokens of being drunk. The landlord thrust
him out at the door, and threatened him with the police if he came back.
From the altercation between them, while this was going on, it appeared
that the man had been discovered in Number Ten, and had declared with
drunken obstinacy that he had taken the room. Gooseberry was so struck
by this sudden intoxication of a previously sober person, that he
couldn't resist running out after the mechanic into the street. As long
as he was in sight of the public-house, the man reeled about in the most
disgraceful manner. The moment he turned the corner of the street, he
recovered his balance instantly, and became as sober a member of society
as you could wish to see. Gooseberry went back to 'The Wheel of Fortune'
in a very bewildered state of mind. He waited about again, on the chance
of something happening. Nothing happened; and nothing more was to be
heard, or seen, of the sailor. Gooseberry decided on going back to the
office. Just as he came to this conclusion, who should appear, on the
opposite side of the street as usual, but the mechanic again! He looked
up at one particular window at the top of the public-house, which was
the only one that had a light in it. The light seemed to relieve his
mind. He left the place directly. The boy made his way back to Gray's
Inn--got your card and message--called--and failed to find you. There
you have the state of the case, Mr. Blake, as it stands at the present
time."

"What is your own opinion of the case, Sergeant?"

"I think it's serious, sir. Judging by what the boy saw, the Indians are
in it, to begin with."

"Yes. And the sailor is evidently the person to whom Mr. Luker passed
the Diamond. It seems odd that Mr. Bruff, and I, and the man in Mr.
Bruff's employment, should all have been mistaken about who the person
was."

"Not at all, Mr. Blake. Considering the risk that person ran, it's
likely enough that Mr. Luker purposely misled you, by previous
arrangement between them."

"Do you understand the proceedings at the public-house?" I asked. "The
man dre