The policeman seemed to be scarcely in so pliant a mood just then.
'Hullo!' he said, his naturally suspicious nature being doubtless aroused by the spectacle of a bareheaded man in evening dress running violently down the lane.

'What's this?
Where are you for in such a hurry ?' and he forcibly detained Theodore Racksole for a moment and scrutinized his face.
'Now, officer,' said Racksole quietly, 'none of your larks, if you please.
I've no time to lose.' 'Beg your pardon, sir,' the policeman remarked, though hesitatingly and not quite with good temper, and Racksole was allowed to proceed on his way.

The millionaire's scheme for trapping Jules was to get down into the little sunk yard by means of the ladder, and then to secrete himself behind some convenient abutment of brickwork until Mr Tom Jackson should have got into the cellar.

He therefore nimbly surmounted the railings--the railings of his own hotel--and was gingerly descending the ladder, when lo! a rough hand seized him by the coat-collar and with a ferocious jerk urged him backwards.

The fact was, Theodore Racksole had counted without the policeman.