You spent a great deal of time in the native quarter, and you had rather an unpleasant experience as the result of making an experiment in opium smoking." Lyne's face went red, and then he laughed.
"You know more about me than I know about you, Tarling," he said, with a note of asperity in his voice, and turned again to his subordinate.
"I have reason to believe that there has been money stolen in this business by one of my cashiers," he said.
"Impossible, sir!" said the shocked Mr.Milburgh.

"Wholly impossible! Who could have done it?
And how clever of you to have found it out, sir! I always say that you see what we old ones overlook even though it's right under our noses!" Mr.Lyne smiled complacently.
"It will interest you to know, Mr.Tarling," he said, "that I myself have some knowledge of and acquaintance with the criminal classes.

In fact, there is one unfortunate protege of mine whom I have tried very hard to reform for the past four years, who is coming out of prison in a couple of days.

I took up this work," he said modestly, "because I feel it is the duty of us who are in a more fortunate position, to help those who have not had a chance in the cruel competition of the world." Tarling was not impressed.
"Do you know the person who has been robbing you ?" he asked.
"I have reason to believe it is a girl whom I have summarily dismissed to-night, and whom I wish you to watch." The detective nodded.
"This is rather a primitive business," he said with the first faint hint of a smile he had shown.

"Haven't you your own shop detective who could take that job in hand?
Petty larceny is hardly in my line.