Among these officers, who were already supplied, Stranleigh divided the remainder of the knives.
"Thank you, my lads, and good-night," he said. "You have carried out the organisation perfectly, and remember this, that as long as you do any useful thing with efficiency, there will be a demand for your services. Good-night."
His lordship heaved a sigh of relief when the last boy departed, leaving him and the shopman alone. Bendale was looking at his customer with somewhat the same expression that his customer had looked through the window at him, wondering whether he was sane or not.
"Well, sir, I must thank you for being the best customer that ever crossed my threshold. If it's a fair question, would you mind saying how you became connected with such an escapade?"
"I take it you are Mr. Bendale, whose name is over the door?"
The shopman confirmed that surmise.
"Well, Mr. Bendale, I am rather ashamed to admit that the escapade, as you call it, was the outcome of mean and petty spite. It was my ill-luck this afternoon to be compelled to seek a business conference with your neighbour, Mr. Brassard."
At the mention of this name Bendale's face clouded over. For the moment he had forgotten him. Stranleigh paid no attention to this change of countenance, but went on carelessly:
