While this was passing, a stout gentleman came from the farther side of the statue, and perceiving Loftus, cried--"Why, brother-in-law, is that you?" But Loftus was too much engrossed to notice him, and continued to expiate upon the beauty of the trophies. "What are you talking about, brother?" cried the stout gentleman. "Grinling Gibbons," replied Loftus, without turning round. "Horace Walpole said that no one before him could give to wood the airy lightness of a flower, and here he has given it to a stone." "This may be all very fine, my good fellow," said the stout gentleman, seizing him by the shoulder; "but don't you see the crowd you're collecting round you? You'll be mobbed presently." "Why, how the devil did you come here, brother Thorneycroft?" cried Loftus, at last recognising him. "Come along, and I'll tell you," replied the iron-merchant, dragging him away, while Morse followed closely behind them. "I'm so glad to have met you," pursued Thorneycroft, as soon as they were clear of the mob; "you'll be shocked to hear what has happened to your niece, Ebba." "Why, what _has_ happened to her?" demanded Loftus. "You alarm me. Out with it at once. I hate to be kept in suspense." "She has left me," replied Thorneycroft--"left her old indulgent father--run away." "Run away!" exclaimed Loftus. "Impossible! I'll not believe it--even from your lips." "Would it were not so!--but it is, alas! too true," replied Thorneycroft mournfully. "And the thing was so unnecessary, for I would gladly have given her to the young man. My sole hope is that she has not utterly disgraced herself." "No, she is too high principled for that," cried Loftus. "Rest easy on that score. But with whom has she run away?" "With a young man named Auriol Darcy," replied Thorneycroft. "He was brought to my house under peculiar circumstances." "I never heard of him," said Loftus. "But I have," interposed Morse. "I've known him these two hundred years." "Eh day! who's this?" cried Thorneycroft. "A crack-brained little fellow, whom I've engaged as valet," replied Loftus. "He fancies he was born in Queen Elizabeth's time." "It's no fancy," cried Morse. "I am perfectly acquainted with Auriol Darcy's history. He drank of the same elixir as myself." "If you know him, can you give us a clue to find him?" asked Thorneycroft. "I am sorry I cannot," replied Morse. "I only saw him for a few minutes the other night, after I had been thrown into the Serpentine by the tall man in the black cloak." "What's that you say?" cried Thorneycroft quickly. "I have heard Ebba speak of a tall man in a black cloak having some mysterious connection with Auriol. I hope that person has nothing to do with her disappearance." "I shouldn't wonder if he had," replied Morse. "I believe that black gentleman to be----" "What!--who?" demanded Thorneycroft. "Neither more nor less than the devil," replied Morse mysteriously.