id, in a different voice from any that he
had yet employed, "let's come to business. These 'ere are the facks o'
this case, and 'ow we're agoin' to get over 'em I don't see. John
leaves his money in your cupboard. Yo' an' he lock it up, an' John
goes away with 'is keys 'ung roun' 'is neck. Yo' agree to that? Well
an' good. But there's _another_ key in your 'ouse, Isaac, as opens
John's cupboard. Ah----"

He waved his hand in deprecation of Isaac's movement.

"I dessay yo' didn't know nowt about it--that's noather 'ere nor there.
Yo' try John's key in that there door"--he pointed to the cupboard by
the fire--"an' yo'll find it fits _ex_--act. Then, thinks I, where's
the key as belongs to that 'ere cupboard? An' John an' I goes upstairs
to look about us, an' in noa time at aw, I sees a 'ole in the skirtin'.
I whips in my finger--lor' bless yer! I knew it wor there the moment I
sets eyes on the hole."

He held up the key triumphantly. By this time, no Old Bailey lawyer
making a hanging speech could have had more command of his task.

"'Ere then we 'ave"--he checked the items off on his fingers--"box
locked up--key in the 'ouse as fits it, unbeknown to John--money tuk
out--key 'idden away. But that's not all--not by long chalks--there's
another side to the affair _hal_together."

Saunders drew himself up, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and
cleared his throat.

"Perhaps yer don' know--I'm sartin sure yer don' know--leastways I'm
hinclined that way,--as Mrs. Costrell"--he made a polite inclination
towards Bessie--"'ave been makin' free with money--fower--five--night a
week at the Spotted Deer--fower--five--night a week. She'd used to
treat every young feller, an' plenty old 'uns too, as turned up; an'
there was a many as only went to Dawson's becos they knew as she'd
treat 'em. Now, she didn't go on tick at Dawson's; she'd _pay_,--an'
she allus payed in 'arf-crowns. An' those 'arf-crowns were curious
'arf-crowns; an' it came into Dawson's 'ead as he'd colleck them
'arf-crowns. 'Ee wanted to see summat, 'ee said--an' I dessay 'ee did.
An' people began to taak. Last night theer wor a bit of a roompus, it
seems, while Mrs. Costrell was a-payin' another o' them things, an'
summat as was said come to my ears--an' come to Watson's. An' me an'
Watson 'ave been makin' inquiries--an' Mr. Dawson wor obligin' enough
to make me a small loan, 'ee wor. Now, I've got just one question to
ask o' John Borrof