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face。 His knees were what I wished to see。 You must yourself
have remarked how worn； wrinkled； and stained they were。 They
spoke of those hours of burrowing。 The only remaining point was
what they were burrowing for。 I walked round the corner； saw the
City and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises； and felt
that I had solved my problem。 When you drove home after the
concert I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the
bank directors； with the result that you have seen。〃
〃And how could you tell that they would make their attempt
to…night？〃 I asked。
〃Well； when they closed their League offices that was a sign
that they cared no longer about Mr。 Jabez Wilson's presencein
other words； that they had completed their tunnel。 But it was
essential that they should use it soon； as it might be discovered；
or the bullion might be removed。 Saturday would suit them better
than any other day； as it would give them two days for their
escape。 For all these reasons I expected them to come to…night。〃
〃You reasoned it out beautifully；〃 I exclaimed in unfeigned
admiration。 〃It is so long a chain； and yet every link rings
true。〃
〃It saved me from ennui；〃 he answered； yawning。 〃Alas！ I
already feel it closing in upon me。 My life is spent in one long
effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence。 These little
problems help me to do so。〃
〃And you are a benefactor of the race；〃 said I。
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Well； perhaps； after all； it is
of some little use；〃 he remarked。 〃‘L'homme c'est rienl'oeuvre
c'est tout；' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand。〃
。