Mr.Howard felt quite sure that the thief was bent on recovering the stolen goods, which, no doubt, he had hidden in the rear of one of the houses.

He would be caught _in flagrante delicto_, and, with a heavy sentence hovering over him, he would probably be induced to name his accomplice.

Mr.Francis Howard was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"The minutes sped on; absolute silence, in spite of the presence of so many men, reigned in the dark and deserted mews.
"Of course, this night's adventure was never allowed to get into the papers," added the man in the corner with his mild smile.

"Had the plan been successful, we should have heard all about it, with a long eulogistic article as to the astuteness of our police; but as it was--well, the tramp sauntered up the mews--and--there he remained for aught Mr.Francis Howard or the other constables could ever explain.

The earth or the shadows swallowed him up.