R. Austin Freeman

“ We followed, one at a time, cautiously descending a flight of very filthy stone steps and stooping to avoid knocking our heads against the overhanging story of an ancient timber house. At the bottom we proceeded, still in single file, along a narrow, crooked passage between grimy walls and ruinous tarred fences until, after many twistings and turnings, we came to a flight of rough wooden steps, thickly coated with yellow mud and slimy sea-grass, which led down to the shore.
"Now," said the sergeant, turning up the bottoms or his trousers, "show us exactly where you picked the box up." ”

“ In conclusive confirmation of this statement, he exhibited them to us, and then gave them a perfunctory wipe on his trousers.
"What struck me," said Bundy, "was that it doesn't seem to have been in the water."
"It hadn't," said Hooper. "The outside paper was quite clean when I picked it up."
"It looks," observed the sergeant, "as if they had turned out the bag and thrown away what they didn't want; and then they probably threw away the bag, too. It is ten chances to one that it has been picked up, but if it hasn't it will probably be somewhere along the high-water mark. ”

“ Bundy asked.
"We've posted up a description of the missing woman with full details of her dress and belongings," replied the sergeant. "But perhaps a list of the things that might be washed up would be useful. People are such fools. Yes, it's a good idea. I'll have a list printed of everything that might get loose and be picked up, and stick it up on the wharves and waterside premises. Then there will be nothing left to their imagination." ”