Harry paused, astonished at the change which had come over Janet, who, as the meaning of his words dawned upon her to their full extent, started back, and with one hand tore hastily at her throat, as if to check the strangling sensation that would arise. Then as she leaned towards him, as if fascinated by his eye, she gasped forth-- "Do you mean--do you mean?" she cried, hoarsely repeating her words, as her face assumed a livid aspect. "Yes, yes; you know whom I mean--Mr Redgrave--" "Mr Redgrave!" she said, hastily. "Yes!" exclaimed Harry, "that gentleman who came here with me. He disappeared a week since. Tell me where they have gone, and you shall be rewarded." Still her gaze was wild and fixed, and no words fell from her lips, till in his impatience, and feeling that she was playing with him. Harry seized one of the bony wrists, when, the touch galvanising her into action, she snatched her hand away, and, as if fleeing from the memory of some past horror, tottered into the back-room; but not to escape, for she was closely followed by Harry. Volume 2, Chapter XVIII. JANET'S KINDNESS. Harry Clayton stopped short upon entering D. Wragg's parlour, as if he had been smitten, for he found himself face to face with Patty, who stood before him pale and trembling, but who met his gaze with a calm look that disarmed him. For a moment he could not speak, but stood as if petrified. "You here!" he exclaimed. "Thank God!" and then he was silent again, struggling with the emotion that troubled him--a mingling of pleasure and doubt. "Miss Pellet--Patty!" he said at last, regardless of the bent and desolate figure crouching at her side, and he caught the young girl's hand in his--"Mr Redgrave? he has been here a good deal lately to see you." "I believe," said Patty, coldly, as she withdrew her hand, "Mr Redgrave has been sometimes, sir, to the shop." "But," exclaimed Harry, earnestly, "do you know where he now is? If you do, pray tell me." "I cannot tell you--I do not know. I heard all your questions. He has not been here for quite a fortnight." "He was here eleven--twelve day since," said a voice. Harry turned sharply, to find himself face to face with the little Frenchman, who courteously raised his pinched old hat. "Twelve days since!" repeated Harry, "and for what purpose?" "_Ma foi_!" exclaimed Canau, with a shrug of the shoulders. "Perhaps Monsieur will walk with me, and we will talk. Not here!" Puzzled and anxious, Harry followed the new-comer into the shop, where he stood amidst the noise of the restless birds and animals, as if ready to answer the visitor's queries. But not at first; it was not until after some preliminary fencing, by which the shrewd little foreigner gained a little insight into Harry's object and character, though the young man was frank and open as the day.