One day, however, the stool pigeon gave Inspector Val a surprising piece of information.

It related to a talk which he had had with Storri the evening before.
"It was at the heel of the hunt like," explained Steamboat Dan, "an' just as he's about to go, he ups an' makes it known that he's goin' to need a benziner--need a firebug." "And of course you promised to find one," said Inspector Val.
"I had him ready; one of the gang is Benzine Bob, an' you know as well as I do that when it comes to touchin' a match to a crib, an' then collectin' the insurance, there's nobody nearer bein' the goods than Benzine Bob." "Yes, I regard Bob as a most gifted incendiary," said Inspector Val.
"Sure; he could teach it.

But what do you figger this Russian's goin' to burn ?" "We'll learn in good time.

You must have Bob agree to everything this party asks." "No trouble on that score; settin' fire to things is Benzine Bob's religion.

He says his prayers to an oiled rag, and a box of matches is his Bible." Storri, taking dark and stormy nights for the visits, twice splashed up the drain to see how London Bill came on.