of him. Armed with this little talisman" (he
patted the snuff-box), "we shall be no longer
troubled with such scruples; though I warn you
that the fellow we have to deal with, the pest of
London, is the most crafty, as well as the most
daring of outlaws, and must be encountered with
qualities like his own—ingenuity and hardihood.
If Armour succeeds—"

(Mr. Armour smiled slightly, and his lips
mutely assumed that form which would be
necessary to pronounce the word " if.")

"—he will have well earned the most liberal
reward your generosity has proposed for him.
You look pale and agitated, and no wonder!
Farewell, my dear, for the present. When I
come again, I trust it will be to bring you
important tidings."

Why does the girl tremble, as she moves up
and down the room; and, stopping at length,
sinks on her knees before her father's picture, on
the spot where she had so lately recorded her
solemn vow?

In the afternoon, Polly-my-Lamb made up her
mind to send for Mrs. Ascroft, and question her
further on the subject of her lodger aud the snuff-
box.

That lady came, and not only related at
considerable length what she could bring to bear on
this topic, but further touched upon the subject
of her later lodgers; and, receiving no check,
launched out boldly into praises of the poor boy,
whom she had nursed and cared for, till she was
as fond of him as though he had been her own.

"He thinks of you all day, and I am confident
dreams of no one else all night. Whatever you
may call it, this fancy of his will be his life or
death, according as you please to behave."

"Behave!'" repeated Polly-my-Lamb, aghast
at this plain speaking.

"Well, miss," continued Mrs. Ascroft, "last
night, for the first time, he slept so quietly it
was a treat to look at him; and he was up today
as fresh as a rose; you might see him
getting well under your very eyes! I wish,
ma'am—if I might make so bold" (dropping a
curtsey), " you would be so kind, now and then,
as just to look out of the window!"

Polly-my-Lamb blushed scarlet, and executed
a frown, which, however, having no constitution
to speak of, faded presently away. The blush,
conscious of itself, remained.

"You needn't look at him, you see," pleaded
Mrs. Ascroft, earnestly.

Polly-my-Lamb smiled, and the landlady, with
a woman's quick perception, saw it was a favourable
moment to take her departure.

"It will be the saving of an innocent young
life, if you should, miss."

This shot was fired from the door, and Polly-
my-Lamb was alone. Suppose we leave her so?
What do you think? She is a dear, good
girl, and may be trusted. Goodness forbid that
we should be guilty of the meanness of watching
her!

All we know further is that, about three o'clock
that same day, Master Arthur Haggerdorn rallied
considerably: so much so that if, in the morning,
he had reminded Mrs. Ascroft of a rose, he
might, in the evening, have been easily mistaken
for a peony.

CHAPTER IV.

SIR JAMES POLHILL sat in council with his
vizier.

"Yes, I think it will do," said the chief.
"After all, however, we want motive, eh?"

"We have that also, Sir James, as I will show
you, with permission. I found a moment or
two, this morning, to have some talk with the
clerk, Middlemiss. He has always been persuaded
that his principal had private dealings
with the Amsterdam house, Dietrich and Co.,
who failed about a year since, under circumstances
which rendered them liable to a criminal
process. Yes, Middlemiss believes that Mr.
Humpage, from motives of generosity, assisted
the house with considerable advances, though it
is certain that no securities in their names can
be found among his papers. The clerk's belief is
grounded upon other circumstances, with which
I need not trouble you. Some suspicion of the
rectitude of these people—Dietrich and Co.—
may have induced Mr. Humpage to discontinue
his support—perhaps even to press for repayment
of his former loans—and, in revenge, or to
evade such claims, this crime may have been
devised and perpetrated. The younger Dietrich
is known by the Dutch police as one of the
most reckless scoundrels unhanged—a
commercial pirate. However, this latter part,
except as to Dietrich's character, is only our
conjecture, since no record exists of Mr. Humpage's
transactions with them, beyond the payment of
several large sums, without apparent consideration,
one at least of which passed through the
hands of their agent in London."

"It wears a likely aspect, Armour; and Lord
Lob was a man exactly to their hand," said Sir
James, as cheerfully as if the fact had been of
the most providential character. "But now,
mind what you are about in tackling this fellow.
You'll find it as much as you can manage. I'm
not nervous in such matters, as you will allow,
but I don't mind owning that I shall not be
entirely at ease in this, till I have his lordship in
limbo, and yourself in a whole skin. You may
smile, Armour, but I cannot afford to have a
vacancy in the police body, which, upon my word,
I should be at a loss to fill."

"No fear, Sir James," said the officer, with
his accustomed coolness. " When do you want
him?"

"No sooner than you can put the needful
amount of salt on his tail."

"I shall take him to-night."

"To-night? Why, Armour, you're a wizard!"
cried Sir James, rubbing his hands, and becoming
infected with the other's confidence. " But
what's your plan?"