He went into a little basement shop where a sign announced that “Scouring and Repairing” were done.  A small and bald Hamburger stepped forward, rubbing his hands.  Offitt told him what he wanted, and the man got a needle and thread and selected from a large bowl of buttons on a shelf one that would suit.  While he was sewing it on, he said: 

“Derrible news apout Gabben Farnham.”

“Yes,” said Offitt.  “Is he dead?”

“I don’t know off he ish tet.  Dey say he ish oud mid his het, und tat looksh mighty pad.  But one ting ish goot; dey cotch de murterer.”

“They have?” asked Offitt, with languid interest.  “What sort of fellow is he?”

“Mutter Gottes!” said the little German.  “De vorst kind.  He would radder gill a man as drink a glass bier.  He gome mighty near gillin’ his pest vrient to-day in de gourt-house droben, ven he vas dellin’ vat he knowed apout it alleweil.”

“A regular fire-eater,” said Offitt.  “So you’ve finished, have you?  How much for the job!”

The German was looking at a stain on the breast of the coat.

“Vot’s dish?” he said.  “Looksh like baint.  Yust lemme take your coat off a minute and I gleans dot up like a nudel soup.”

“Say, mind your own business, won’t you?” growled Offitt.  “Here’s your money, and when I want any of your guff I’ll let you know.”

He hurried out, leaving the poor German amazed at the ill result of his effort to turn an honest penny and do a fellow-creature a service.

“Vunny beebles!” he said to himself.  “But I got a kevarter off a tollar for a den-cent chob.”

Offitt came out of the shop and walked at a rapid pace to Dean Street.  He was determined to make an end at once of Maud’s scruples and coquetry.  He said to himself:  “If we are both alive to-morrow, we shall be married.”  He believed if he could have her to himself for half an hour, he could persuade her to come with him.  He was busy all the way plotting to get her parents out of the house.  It would be easy enough to get them out of the room; but he wanted them out of hearing, out of reach of a cry for help even.

He found them all together in the sitting-room.  The arrest of Sleeny had fallen heavily upon them.  They had no doubt of his guilt, from the reports they had heard, and their surprise and horror at his crime were not lessened but rather increased by their familiar affection for him.

“To think,” said Saul to his wife, “that that boy has worked at the same bench, and slept in the same house with me for so many years, and I never knowed the Satan that was in him!”

“It’s in all of us, Saul,” said Mrs. Matchin, trying to improve the occasion for the edification of her unbelieving husband.