“But the problem of the glove is a different matter, Joe.  There are three phases to it:  first, if the visitor thought he had dropped it in the house and wanted to keep his visit there a profound secret from subsequent inquiry he would take home the remaining glove and destroy it—­probably by burning it.  Secondly, if he thought he had dropped it after leaving the house he would not feel that safety necessitated the destruction of the remaining one, but he would probably throw it away where it would not be likely to be found.  In the third place, if he had no particular reason for wishing to hide the fact that he had visited Riversbrook he would throw it away anywhere when he became conscious that he had lost the other.  He would throw it away merely because an odd glove is of no use to a man who wears gloves.  The man who doesn’t wear gloves would pick up an odd glove from the ground and think he had made a find.  He would take it home to his wife and she would probably keep it for finger-stalls for the children.”

Crewe put down his notes and got up from his chair.  “Your job is this, Joe.  Go to Riversbrook and make a careful search on both sides of the road for the missing glove.  I do not think he threw it away—­if he did throw it away—­until he had walked some distance, but you mustn’t act on that assumption.  Look over the fences of the houses and into the hedges.  Walk along in the direction of Hampstead Underground.  Search the gutters and all the trees and hedges along the road.  Take one side of the street to the Underground station and if you do not find the glove go back to Riversbrook along the other side.  Make a thorough job of it, as it is most important that the glove should be found—­if it is to be found.”

After Joe had departed Crewe put on his hat and left his office for the Strand.  His first call was at the shop of Bruden and Marshall, hosiers, in order to find out if any information was to be obtained there about the ownership of the glove.  He was aware that the police had been there on the same mission, but his experience had often shown that valuable information was to be gathered after the police had been over the ground.

On introducing himself to the manager of the shop that gentleman displayed as much humble civility as he would have done towards a valued customer.  He could not say anything about the ownership of the glove which Crewe had brought, and he could not even say if it had come from their shop.  It was an excellent glove, the line being known in the trade as “first-choice reindeer.”  They stocked that particular kind of article at 10/6 the pair.  They had the pleasure of having had the late Sir Horace Fewbanks on their books.  He was quite an old account, if he might use the expression.  He was one of their best customers, being a gentleman who was particular about his appearance and who would have nothing but the best in any line that he fancied.  On the subject of Sir Horace’s taste in hose the manager had much to say, and, in spite of Crewe’s efforts to confine the conversation to gloves, the manager repeatedly dragged in socks.  He did it so frequently that he became conscious his visitor was showing signs of annoyance, so he apologised, adding, with an inspiration, “After all, hose is really gloves for the feet.”