nse oval malachite brooch in the centre of it, which
I mention because I found myself staring mechanically at it during the
interview.

"My name is Weatherhead," I began with the bearing of a detected
pickpocket. "Can I be of any service to you?"

"Of a great service," he said, emphatically; "you can restore to me ze
poodle vich I see zere!"

Nemesis had called at last in the shape of a rival claimant. I staggered
for an instant; then I said, "Oh, I think you are under a mistake; that
dog is not mine."

"I know it," he said; "zere 'as been leetle mistake, so if ze dog is not
to you, you give him back to me, _hein_?"

"I tell you," I said, "that poodle belongs to the gentleman over there."
And I pointed to the colonel, seeing that it was best now to bring him
into the affair without delay.

"You are wrong," he said, doggedly; "ze poodle is my poodle! And I was
direct to you--it is your name on ze carte!" And he presented me with
that fatal card which I had been foolish enough to give to Blagg as a
proof of my identity. I saw it all now; the old villain had betrayed me,
and to earn a double reward had put the real owner on my track.

I decided to call the colonel at once, and attempt to brazen it out with
the help of his sincere belief in the dog.

"Eh, what's that; what's it all about?" said the colonel, bustling up,
followed at intervals by the others.

The Frenchman raised his hat again. "I do not vant to make a trouble,"
he began, "but zere is leetle mistake. My word of honour, sare, I see my
own poodle in your garden. Ven I appeal to zis gentilman to restore 'im
he reffer me to you."

"You must allow me to know my own dog, sir," said the colonel. "Why,
I've had him from a pup. Bingo, old boy, you know your name, don't you?"

But the brute ignored him altogether, and began to leap wildly at the
hedge in frantic efforts to join the Frenchman. It needed no Solomon to
decide _his_ ownership!

"I tell you, you 'ave got ze wrong poodle--it is my own dog, my Azor! He
remember me well, you see? I lose him, it is three, four days. . . . I
see a nottice zat he is found, and ven I go to ze address zey tell me,
'Oh, he is reclaim, he is gone viz a strangaire who has advertise.' Zey
show me ze placard; I follow 'ere, and ven I arrive I see my poodle in
ze garden before me!"

"But look here," said the colonel, impatiently; "it's all very well to
say that, but how can you prove it? I give you _my_ word that the dog