They were as fire and
water to one another, and when they came together, invariably there was
trouble.
Kilsip was tall and slender; Gorby was short and stout. Kilsip looked
clever; Gorby wore a smile of self-satisfaction; which alone was
sufficient to prevent his doing so. Yet, singularly enough, it was this
very smile that proved most useful to Gorby in the pursuit of his
calling. It enabled him to come at information where his sharp-looking
colleague might try in vain. The hearts of all went forth to Gorby's
sweet smile and insinuating manner. But when Kilsip appeared people
were wont to shut up, and to retire promptly, like alarmed snails,
within their shells. Gorby gave the lie direct to those who
hold that the face is ever the index to the mind. Kilsip, on the other
hand, with his hawk-like countenance, his brilliant black eyes, hooked
nose, and small thin-lipped mouth, endorsed the theory. His complexion
was quite colourless, and his hair was jet black. Altogether, he could
not be called fair to look upon. His craft and cunning were of the
snake-like order. So long as he conducted his enquiries in secret he
was generally successful; but once let him appear personally on the
scene, and failure was assured to him. Thus, while Kilsip passed as the
cleverer, Gorby was invariably the more successful--at all events,
ostensibly.
When, therefore, this hansom cab murder case was put into Gorby's
hands, the soul of Kilsip was smitten with envy, and when Fitzgerald
was arrested, and all the evidence collected by Gorby seemed to point
so conclusively to his guilt, Kilsip writhed in secret over the triumph
of his enemy.
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