Under any circumstances, I was certain of the head chambermaid; and under any circumstances, also, the head chambermaid was certain of Boots.
I waited till Tom came home, looking very puffy and bilious about the face; but as to his intellects, if anything, rather sharper than ever.
His report was uncommonly short and pleasant.

The inn was shutting up; Mr.Davager was going to bed in rather a drunken condition; Mr.
Davager's friend had never appeared.

I sent Tom (properly instructed about keeping our man in view all the next morning) to his shake-down behind the office-desk, where I heard him hiccoughing half the night, as even the best boys will, when over-excited and too full of tarts.
At half-past seven next morning, I slipped quietly into Boots's pantry.
Down came the clothes.

No pockets in trousers.

Waistcoat-pockets empty.
Coat-pockets with something in them.