Let him come, there and then, with me to Mr.Murray, and let the two of us tell what we knew and be done with it: if not, then I myself would go straight to Mr.
Lindsey and tell him.
I set out for the office earlier than usual that morning, and went round by way of the back street at the bottom of which Crone's store stood facing the river.

I sometimes walked round that way of a morning, and I knew that Crone was as a rule at his place very early, amongst his old rubbish, or at his favourite game of gossiping with the fishermen that had their boats drawn up there.

But when I reached it, the shop was still shut, and though I waited as long as I could, Crone did not come.

I knew where he lived, at the top end of the town, and I thought to meet him as I walked up to Mr.Lindsey's; but I had seen nothing of him by the time I reached our office door, so I laid the matter aside until noon, meaning to get a word with him when I went home to my dinner.

And though I could have done so there and then, I determined not to say anything to Mr.
Lindsey until I had given Crone the chance of saying it with me--to him, or to the police.