The strictest inquiry which he could institute failed of producing the smallest fragment of evidence against any of the persons on whom suspicion naturally fell.

Their language and behavior on being informed of the robbery was perfectly consistent with the language and behavior of innocent people.

Sergeant Bulmer felt from the firs t that this was a case for private inquiry and secret observation.

He began by recommending Mr.and Mrs.Yatman to affect a feeling of perfect confidence in the innocence of the persons living under their roof, and he then opened the campaign by employing himself in following the goings and comings, and in discovering the friends, the habits, and the secrets of the maid-of-all-work.
Three days and nights of exertion on his own part, and on that of others who were competent to assist his investigations, were enough to satisfy him that there was no sound cause for suspicion against the girl.
He next practiced the same precaution in relation to the shopman.
There was more difficulty and uncertainty in privately clearing up this person's character without his knowledge, but the obstacles were at last smoothed away with tolerable success; and, though there is not the same amount of certainty in this case which there was in the case of the girl, there is still fair reason for supposing that the shopman has had nothing to do with the robbery of the cash-box.
As a necessary consequence of these proceedings, the range of suspicion now becomes limited to the lodger, Mr.Jay.
When I presented your letter of introduction to Sergeant Bulmer, he had already made some inquiries on the subject of this young man.

The result, so far, has not been at all favorable.