Sharpin's shoes? I shouldn't, I can promise you.
FROM CHIEF INSPECTOR THEAKSTONE TO MR. MATTHEW SHARPIN.
July 12th.
SIR--Sergeant Bulmer has already told you to consider yourself
suspended until further notice. I have now authority to add that
your services as a member of the Detective police are positively
declined. You will please to take this letter as notifying
officially your dismissal from the force.
I may inform you, privately, that your rejection is not intended
to cast any reflections on your character. It merely implies that
you are not quite sharp enough for our purposes. If we _are_ to
have a new recruit among us, we should infinitely prefer Mrs.
Yatman.
Your obedient servant,
FRANCIS THEAKSTONE.
NOTE ON THE PRECEDING CORRESPONDENCE, ADDED BY MR. THEAKSTONE.
The inspector is not in a position to append any explanations of
importance to the last of the letters. It has been discovered
that Mr. Matthew Sharpin left the house in Rutherford Street five
minutes after his interview outside of it with Sergeant Bulmer,
his manner expressing the liveliest emotions of terror and
astonishment, and his left cheek displaying a bright patch of
red, which looked as if it might have been the result of what is
popularly termed a smart box on the ear.
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