"Now, my man, sit down; don't stand there!" exclaimed Sir Francis, thrusting a chair forward; "now, tell us quickly." "Don't keer to sit down, thanky," said the fellow, surlily, taking a sidelong glance round the room, ending by fixing his eyes for a moment on the door, as if to make sure that there was a retreat open in case of need. "Well, well!" exclaimed Sir Francis; "now tell us what you know, and why you have come. Did you see the advertisement, or one of those placards?" "Bla'guards?" said the fellow, inquiringly. "Yes, yes! the bills." "Yes; I saw a bill--two 'underd pound reward--and I've come for that there two 'underd pound reward." "But your information--what do you know?" broke in Harry. The man turned and stared at him heavily. "Ah! I didn't know you at first, without no hat on; but I knows you now. You was with him once when he came down our way. I seed you then, and I ain't forgot you. But, first of all, who's going to pay this here money? Is it you, or is it him?" "I'll pay you--I'll pay you, my man!" exclaimed Sir Francis; "and what is your information?--what do you know?" "What I know's worth two 'underd pound now," said the fellow, winking at Harry; "but if I tells it, then, praps, it won't be worth nothin' to me." "You are dealing with a gentleman, my good fellow," said Harry, "and you need be under no apprehension." "But how do I know as I shan't be done?" was the offensive reply. "Nobody don't trust me nothin'; and I don't see why I should trust nobody. I'm a plain-spoke sort of a chap, I am; and I allers says what's in my mind. So now, lookye here--you says as you'll give two 'underd pound to them as'll tell you where a tall young man's gone-- that's it, ain't it?" Harry nodded. "Werry good, then. I comes here, and I says, `'And over the stiff!' `What for?' says you. `'Cos I knows wheer he is,' says I. `So, now then,' I says, `hand over the tin.'" Without another word, Sir Francis went to a small writing-case, opened it, and took from a book a ready-signed cheque for the amount. "Stop!" exclaimed Harry. "Excuse me, Sir Francis; but your anxiety overleaps your caution. How do we know that this man's information is worth having?" "He says he knows where--where--you know what he says," said Sir Francis, piteously. "Yes," said Harry; "but let him prove his words." "What! are yer agoin' to run back from it, or are yer agoin' to hand over the stiff?" said the man, uneasily. "When you have earned it," said Harry, almost fiercely. "Now, look here, my man, show us the value of your information, and restore this gentleman to his friends; and without any reference to such complicity as you may have had in the transaction, the two hundred pounds are yours." "But lookye here," said the man, leaning towards him; "suppose as he's-- you know what?" and he whispered the last words. "The money is yours all the same," said Harry, in the same tone.