Sir Francis shook hands warmly, saying nothing, but thinking the more deeply; and then, bidding farewell to the sergeant at the door, he was accompanied by Clayton back to their temporary home. They had not been back long though, before there was a step on the stair, and Mr Stiff, the landlord, came up to announce a visitor. "Who?" said Sir Francis. "That there little jigging man, sir, as Mr Lionel used to buy his dogs of in--" "Tell him that I am unwell--that I cannot see him," exclaimed Sir Francis; and Mr Stiff took his departure, but only to return at the end of five minutes. "Well, Mr Stiff?" "I can't get rid of him, please, Sir Francis. He says he should be so glad if you'd see him only for a minute. He won't detain you more, and he's in a terrible way about your saying you can't." "Well, show him up," said Sir Francis, who was not in the humour to refuse anything in the gladness and thankfulness which now filled his heart. "Shall I see him?" said Clayton, offering to relieve Sir Francis of the task. "No; perhaps it is something about poor Lionel. I will see him." The next minute there was the peculiar thumping noise of D. Wragg's feet in the passage, but Sir Francis found time to say a few words before the dealer readied the room. "Is not this the curious-looking man at the house we searched?" "The same," said Harry. "Ah, yes!--I forgot," said Sir Francis; "these troubles have tried me. But here he is." Sir Francis was right, for the noise increased, the door was thrown open, and the next moment, in a tremendous state of excitement, D. Wragg stood confessed. Volume 3, Chapter XVIII. D. WRAGG ON PRINCIPLE. "Sarvant, sir--sarvant, sir!" exclaimed D. Wragg, flourishing his hat first at Sir Francis, and then at Harry Clayton, while he worked and jerked himself about in a way that was perfectly frightful to contemplate. "Just give me a minute. I won't keep you both more than that, only I couldn't rest without coming in to tell you as it does us at home so much good 'cos that young gent's found, as you can't tell." Sir Francis knit his brow as he listened, for he could not help associating the man before him with the cause of Lionel's disappearance; but he did not speak. "Ah! I see you're cross about it," said D. Wragg, who caught the frown; "but never mind if you are; we're glad all the same. You thought we had to do with it?" "My good fellow, yes!" exclaimed Sir Francis, hastily; for this touched him upon a tender point--he had been unjust. "Yes; we did think so, and I beg your pardon for it most heartily. It was a gross piece of injustice, and I beg that you will forgive it. If--" "You're a reg'lar, thorough-bred, game gentleman! that's what you are," said D. Wragg; "and I respect you, sir, that I do. And if you're sorry for having my place searched, why, there's an end of it; and as to forgiving you, why, we won't say any more about that." "But if money--" continued Sir Francis.