Storri would have come oftener to observe how London Bill fared with his work, but the cracksman discountenanced the thought.
"There's no sense in comin'," explained London Bill.

"You can't do any good, an' you get in the way.

Besides, there's the chance of being piped off; some party might see you and catch on." One day Inspector Val brought Richard a contrivance made of thin rubber.
It was circular, and eighteen inches in diameter.

If the rubber contrivance resembled anything, it was one of those hot-water bags common in the trade of hospitals.

It was hollow, and had a metal mouth shaped like the mouth of a bottle; instead of water, however, the bag was intended to hold air.