The grass about the graves was long, and under the trees it was already twilight.  Hewitt and I, two or three yards apart, to avoid falling over one another in case of sudden movement, watched from behind gravestones.  The form of Wilks stood out large and black against the fading light in the west as he stealthily approached through the long grass.  A light cart came clattering along the road, and Wilks dropped at once and crouched on his knees till it had passed.  Then, staring warily about him, he made straight for the stone behind which Hewitt waited.

I saw Hewitt’s dark form swing noiselessly round to the other side of the stone.  Wilks passed on and dropped on his knee beside a large, weather-worn slab that rested on a brick under-structure a foot or so high.  The long grass largely hid the bricks, and among it Wilks plunged his hand, feeling along the brick surface.  Presently he drew out a loose brick, and laid it on the slab.  He felt again in the place, and brought forth a small dark object.  I saw Hewitt rise erect in the gathering dusk, and with extended arm step noiselessly toward the stooping man.  Wilks made a motion to place the dark object in his pocket, but checked himself, and opened what appeared to be a lid, as though to make sure of the safety of the contents.  The last light, straggling under the trees, fell on a brilliantly sparkling object within, and like a flash Hewitt’s hand shot over Wilks’ shoulder and snatched the jewel.

The man actually screamed—­one of those curious sharp little screams that one may hear from a woman very suddenly alarmed.  But he sprang at Hewitt like a cat, only to meet a straight drive of the fist that stretched him on his back across the slab.  I sprang from behind my stone, and helped Hewitt to secure his wrists with a pocket-handkerchief.  Then we marched him, struggling and swearing, to the village.

When, in the lights of the village, he recognized us, he had a perfect fit of rage, but afterward he calmed down, and admitted that it was a “very clean cop.”  There was some difficulty in finding the village constable, and Sir Valentine Quinton was dining out and did not arrive for at least an hour.  In the interval Wilks grew communicative.

“How much d’ye think I’ll get?” he asked.

“Can’t guess,” Hewitt replied.  “And as we shall probably have to give evidence, you’ll be giving yourself away if you talk too much.”

“Oh, I don’t care; that’ll make no difference.  It’s a fair cop, and I’m in for it.  You got at me nicely, lending me three quid.  I never knew a reeler do that before.  That blinded me.  But was it kid about Gold Street?”

“No, it wasn’t.  Mr. Hollams is safely shut up by this time, I expect, and you are avenged for your little trouble with him this afternoon.”

“What did you know about that?  Well, you’ve got it up nicely for me, I must say.  S’pose you’ve been following me all the time?”