He had on his desk a handkerchief and a
few articles which had just been taken from a man who had been
arrested for passing false coins."
"Oh!" Jennings looked very interested, "go on."
"This man was in one of the cells, and he is to be brought
before the magistrate this morning. They searched him and
took his handkerchief from him."
"It is not customary to do that?"
"No, Sir. But this man--I don't know his name--had two
handkerchiefs. The searcher thought that was one too many,"
said Drudge, with the glimmer of a smile, "and took one."
"Why do you tell me all this?" asked Jennings impatiently.
"Because the handkerchief was scented with the same perfume as
the handkerchief of Mrs. Herne I picked up. The moment I
smelt it I thought of her coming back for the bag. The scent
is so strange and strong that I thought it just as well to
mention it to you. You are interested in Mrs. Herne, sir, so
if this man uses the same scent--"
"Quite so. You have acted very wisely. Where was the man
arrested?"
"At a place near Rexton. He was trying to get a drink and
gave a shilling--it was false. The inspector will show it
to you, sir. And another queer thing, Mr. Jennings, this man
had some rags and a bottle of petroleum on him."
"Humph! Perhaps he intended to set fire to some place. Have
you heard of any fire?"
"No, sir, not near Rexton."
"At what time was the man arrested?"
"At nine last night.
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