The Great Train Robbery

Pierce and Agar are on a rooftop looking down on the Huddleston & Bradford Bank. At 8:29 am, Mr. Trent arrives in his carriage. As he steps out of his carriage, Teddy Burke knocks into him, apologizes, and moves on. Mr. Trent continues toward the bank and soon realizes that he might have been pickpocketed. He feels in his coat pocket for what Pierce presumes is the key and looks relieved when he finds it. Now Pierce knows that Mr. Trent personally holds the key.

Pierce continues to learn more about Mr. Trent and his family in order to get close to him. He is unable to find a way in until the evening of August 3, when he sees Mr. Trent getting into a carriage with one of his bulldogs.

Pierce goes to the stable of Jeremy Johnson & Son. He talks to Mr. Jeremy Johnson, Sr. about getting “a fully made dog” (47), or a dog prepared to fight. Johnson shows him several dogs, but Pierce is not satisfied with any of them. Finally, Johnson shows Pierce a large, fierce dog that Pierce agrees to buy for £40. Pierce puts £10 down for the dog and says he will be back to take the dog home.