'I answer you, simply, most on 'em.'

'Do you suppose there has been much violence and robbery, beforehand,
among these cases?'

'I don't suppose at all about it,' returned Gaffer. 'I ain't one of the
supposing sort. If you'd got your living to haul out of the river every
day of your life, you mightn't be much given to supposing. Am I to show
the way?'

As he opened the door, in pursuance of a nod from Lightwood, an
extremely pale and disturbed face appeared in the doorway--the face of a
man much agitated.

'A body missing?' asked Gaffer Hexam, stopping short; 'or a body found?
Which?'

'I am lost!' replied the man, in a hurried and an eager manner.

'Lost?'

'I--I--am a stranger, and don't know the way. I--I--want to find the
place where I can see what is described here. It is possible I may know
it.' He was panting, and could hardly speak; but, he showed a copy of
the newly-printed bill that was still wet upon the wall. Perhaps its
newness, or perhaps the accuracy of his observation of its general look,
guided Gaffer to a ready conclusion.

'This gentleman, Mr Lightwood, is on that business.'