Tulliver, in
Queen Anne's Court. Provided with these two addresses, Gilbert fancied
that Mr. Proul's work must needs be easy enough.
That gentleman, however, was not disposed to make light of the duty
committed to him; whether from a professional habit of exaggerating the
importance of any mission undertaken by him, or in perfect singleness of
mind, it is not easy to say.
"It's a watching business, you see sir," he told Gilbert, "and is pretty
sure to be tedious. I may put a man to hang about this Mr. Medler's
business all day and every day for a month at a stretch, and he may miss
his customer at the last, especially as you can't give me any kind of
description of the man you want."
"Surely your agent could get some information out of Medler's clerk; it's
in his trade to do that kind of thing, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, sir; I don't deny that I might put a man on to the clerk, and
it might answer. On the other hand, such a gentleman's clerk would be
likely to be uncommon well trained and uncommon little trusted."
"But we want to know so little," Gilbert exclaimed impatiently; "only
where this man lives, and who lives with him."
"Yes," murmured Mr. Proul, rubbing his chin thoughtfully; "it ain't much,
as you say, and it might be got out of the clerk, if the clerk knows it;
but as to Mrs.
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