cept
on commission. Even Mr. Smiler would not have burthened himself with
such diamonds without knowing what to do with them, and what he
should get for them. That they were intended ultimately for the hands
of Messrs. Harter and Benjamin, Gager almost believed. And Gager
was inclined to think that Messrs. Harter and Benjamin,--or rather
Mr. Benjamin, for Mr. Harter himself was almost too old for work
requiring so very great mental activity,--that Mr. Benjamin, fearing
the honesty of his executive officer Mr. Smiler, had been splendidly
treacherous to his subordinate. Gager had not quite completed his
theory; but he was very firm on one great point,--that the thieves at
Carlisle had been genuine thieves, thinking that they were stealing
the diamonds, and finding their mistake out when the box had been
opened by them under the bridge. "Who have 'em, then?" asked Bunfit
of his younger brother, in a disparaging whisper.

"Well; yes; who 'ave 'em? It's easy to say, who 'ave 'em? Suppose
'e 'ave 'em." The "he" alluded to by Gager was Lord George de Bruce
Carruthers. "But laws, Bunfit, they're gone--weeks ago. You know
that, Bunfit." This had occurred before the intended search among
poor Lizzie's boxes, but Bunfit's theory had not been shaken. Bunfit
could see all round his own theory. It was whole, and the motives as
well as the operations of the persons concerned were explained by it.
But the Gager theory only went to show what had not been done, and
offered no explanation of the accomplished scheme. Then Bunfit went a
little further in his theory, not disdaining to accept something from
Gager. Perhaps Lord George had engaged these men, and had afterwards
found it practicable to get the diamonds without their assistance. On
one great point all concerned in the inquiry were in unison,--that
the diamonds had not been in the box when it was carried out of the
bedroom at Carlisle. The great point of difference consisted in this,
that whereas Gager was sure that the robbery when committed had been
genuine, Bunfit was of opinion that the box had been first opened,
and then taken out of the hotel in order that the police might be put
on a wrong track.

The matter was becoming very important. Two or three of the leading
newspapers had first hinted at and then openly condemned the
incompetence and slowness of the police. Such censure, as we all
know, is very common, and in nine cases out of ten it is unjust. They
who write it pr