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struck him that there might be a reward offered for catching him；
and he determined to make that slight change in his personal
appearance which puzzled the witnesses so much before the
magistrate to…day。 So he opens his dressing…case and crops his
hair in no time； and takes off his whiskers next。 The fire was
out； and he had to shave in cold water。 What with that； and what
with the flurry of his mind； naturally enough he cut himself〃
〃And dried the blood with his nightgown？〃 says I。
〃With his nightgown；〃 repeated Mr。 Dark。 〃It was the first thing
that lay handy； and he snatched it up。 Wait a bit； though； the
cream of the thing is to come。 When he had done being his own
barber； he couldn't for the life of him hit on a way of getting
rid of the loose hair。 The fire was out； and he had no matches；
so he couldn't burn it。 As for throwing it away； he didn't dare
do that in the house or about the house； for fear of its being
found； and betraying what he had done。 So he wraps it all up in
paper； crams it into his pocket to be disposed of when he is at a
safe distance from the Hall； takes his bag； gets out at the
window； shuts it softly after him； and makes for the road as fast
as his long legs will carry him。 There he walks on till a coach
overtakes him； and so travels back to London to find himself in a
fresh scrape as soon as be gets there。 An interesting situation；
William； and hard traveling from one end of France to the other；
had not agreed together in the case of Number Two。 Mr。 James
Smith found her in bed； with doctor's orders that she was not to
be moved。 There was nothing for it after that but to lie by in
London till the lady got better。 Luckily for us； she didn't hurry
herself； so that； after all； your mistress has to thank the very
woman who supplanted her for clearing her character by helping us
to find Mr。 James Smith。〃
〃And； pray； how did you come by that loose hair of his which you
showed before the justice to…day？〃 I asked。
〃Thank Number Two again；〃 says Mr。 Dark。 〃I was put up to asking
after it by what she told me。 While we were talking about the
advertisement； I made so bold as to inquire what first set her
thinking that her husband and the Mr。 James Smith whom we wanted
might be one and the same man。 'Nothing；' says she； 'but seeing
him come home with his hair cut short and his whiskers shaved
off； and finding that he could not give me any good reason for
disfiguring himself in that way。 I had my suspicions that
something was wrong； and the sight of your advertisement
strengthened them directly。' The hearing her say that suggested
to my mind that there might be a difficulty in identifying him
after the change in his looks； and I asked him what he had done
with the loose hair before we left London。 It was found in the
pocket of his traveling coat just as he had huddled it up there
on leaving the Hall； worry； and fright； and vexation； having
caused him to forget all about it。 Of course I took charge of the
parcel； and you know what good it did as well as I do。 So to
speak； William； it just completed this beautifully neat case。
Looking at the matter in a professional point of view； I don't
hesitate to say that we have managed our business with Mr。 James
Smith to perfection。 We have produced him at the right time； and
we are going to get rid of him at the right time。 By to…night he
will be on his way to foreign parts with Number Two； and he won't
show his nose in England again if he lives to the age of
Methuselah。〃
It was a relief to hear that and it was almost as great a comfort
to find； from what Mr。 Dark said next； that my mistress need fear
nothing that Josephine could do for the future。
The charge of theft； on which she was about to be tried； did not
afford the shadow of an excuse in law any more than in logic for
alluding to the crime which her master had committed。 If she
meant to talk about it she might do so in her place of
transportation； but she would not have the slightest chance of
being listened to previously in a court of law。
〃In short；〃 said Mr。 Dark； rising to take his leave； 〃as I have
told you already； William； it's checkmate for marmzelle。 She
didn't manage the business of the robbery half as sharply as I
should have expected。 She certainly began well enough by staying
modestly at a lodging in the village to give her attendance at
the examinations； as it might be required； nothing could look
more innocent and respectable so far； but her hiding the property
between the mattresses of her bedthe very first place that any
experienced man would think of looking inwas such an amazingly
stupid thing to do； that I really can't account for it； unless
her mind had more weighing on it than it was able to bear； which；
considering the heavy stakes she played for； is likely enough。
Anyhow； her hands are tied now； and her tongue too； for the
matter of that。 Give my respects to your mistress； and tell her
that her runaway husband and her lying maid will never either of
them harm her again as long as they live。 She has nothing to do
now but to pluck up her spirits and live happy。 Here's long life
to her and to you； William； in the last glass of ale； and here's
the same toast to myself in the bottom of the jug。〃
With those words Mr。 Dark pocketed his large snuff…box； gave a
last wink with his bright eye； and walked rapidly away；
whistling； to catch the London coach。 From that time to this he
and I have never met again。
A few last words relating to my mistress and to the other persons
chiefly concerned in this narrative will conclude all that it is
now necessary for me to say。
For some months the relatives and friends； and I myself； felt sad
misgivings on my poor mistress's account。 We doubted if it was
possible； with such a quick； sensitive nature as hers； that she
could support the shock which had been inflicted on her。 But our
powers of endurance are； as I have learned to believe； more often
equal to the burdens laid upon us than we are apt to imagine。 I
have seen many surprising recoveries from illness after all hope
had been lost； and I have lived to see my mistress recover from
the grief and terror which we once thought would prove fatal to
her。 It was long before she began to hold up her head again； but
care and kindness； and time and change wrought their effect on
her at last。 She is not now； and never will be again； the woman
she was once； her manner is altered； and she looks older by many
a year than she really is。 But her health causes us no anxiety
now； her spirits are calm and equal； and I have good hope that
many quiet years of service in her house are left for me still。 I
myself have married during the long interval of time which I am
now passing over in a few words。 This change in my life is；
perhaps； not worth mentioning； but I am reminded of my two little
children when I speak of my mistress in her present position。 I
really think they make the great happiness； and interest； and
amusement of her life； and prevent her from feeling lonely and
dried up at heart。 It is a pleasant reflection to me to remember
this； and perhaps it may be the same to you； for which reason