So much for the orders that I am desired to communicate to you.  A word in your ear, next, about this new man who is to take your place.  His name is Matthew Sharpin; and between ourselves, Sergeant, I don’t think much of him.  He has not served his time among the rank and file of the force.  You and I mounted up, step by step, to the places we now fill; but this stranger, it seems, is to have the chance given him of dashing into our office at one jump,—­supposing he turns out strong enough to take it.  You will naturally ask me how he comes by this privilege.  I can only tell you, that he has some uncommonly strong interest to back him in certain high quarters, which you and I had better not mention except under our breaths.  He has been a lawyer’s clerk; and he looks, to my mind, rather a mean, underhand sample of that sort of man.  According to his own account,—­by the bye, I forgot to say that he is wonderfully conceited in his opinion of himself, as well as mean and underhand to look at,—­according to his own account, he leaves his old trade and joins ours of his own free will and preference.  You will no more believe that than I do.  My notion is, that he has managed to ferret out some private information, in connection with the affairs of one of his master’s clients, which makes him rather an awkward customer to keep in the office for the future, and which, at the same time, gives him hold enough over his employer to make it dangerous to drive him into a corner by turning him away.  I think the giving him this unheard-of chance among us is, in plain words, pretty much like giving him hush-money to keep him quiet.  However that may be, Mr. Matthew Sharpin is to have the case now in your hands; and if he succeeds with it, he pokes his ugly nose into our office, as sure as fate.  You have heard tell of some sad stuff they have been writing lately in the newspapers, about improving the efficiency of the Detective Police by mixing up a sharp lawyer’s clerk or two along with them.  Well, the experiment is now going to be tried; and Mr. Matthew Sharpin is the first lucky man who has been pitched on for the purpose.  We shall see how this precious move succeeds.  I put you up to it, Sergeant, so that you may not stand in your own light by giving the new man any cause to complain of you at head-quarters, and remain yours,

Francis Theakstone.

FROM MR. MATTHEW SHARPIN TO CHIEF INSPECTOR THEAKSTONE.

London, 5th July, 18—.

Dear Sir,

Having now been favored with the necessary instructions from Sergeant Bulmer, I beg to remind you of certain directions which I have received, relating to the report of my future proceedings, which I am to prepare for examination at head-quarters.