I tell you, sir, my loss will be nearly L10,000 altogether.

I sell on commission, and, of course, have to make good the loss.' "He was evidently trying to bear up manfully, and as a business man should, under his sad fate.

He refused in any way to attach the slightest blame to his old and faithful servant Robertson, who had caught, perhaps, his death of cold in his zeal for his absent master.

As for any hint of suspicion falling even remotely upon the man, the very idea appeared to Mr.Knopf absolutely preposterous.
"With regard to the old charwoman, Mr.Knopf certainly knew nothing about her, beyond the fact that she had been recommended to him by one of the tradespeople in the neighbourhood, and seemed perfectly honest, respectable, and sober.
"About the tramp Mr.Knopf knew still less, nor could he imagine how he, or in fact anybody else, could possibly know that he happened to have diamonds in his house that night.
"This certainly seemed the great hitch in the case.
"Mr.Ferdinand Knopf, at the instance of the police, later on went to the station and had a look at the suspected tramp.

He declared that he had never set eyes on him before.
"Mr.Shipman, on his way home from business in the afternoon, had done likewise, and made a similar statement.
"Brought before the magistrate, the tramp gave but a poor account of himself.