"Not he, Miss. When the gent found we had got it, he was put out and no mistake; though he sham not. Away he goes and gets the money somehow, and has us all away in no time." "How many were there in the family?" "Well, let me see. They was only living in lodgings, and had but half the house. There was Dallyhorse himself, and a queer-looking lady, and some children, I don’t know how many children, for they kept them out of the way; and a nice young woman as did the cooking for them, and precious little it was." "What was his profession? And who was his creditor?’ "I don’t know. They called him an artist I think, but he look to me more like a sailor. It was a boarding-house bill, as I was on him for. Rum-tempered fellow. I thought he would have stuck me when I got his sword thing. A tallish man he was, slight build, and active, and such black eyes." "Now, Balaam, if you can trace that man, and find out where he is living now, I will give you two hundred pounds. Here’s ten pounds for you as an earnest." Balaam was so amazed, that he almost looked straight at me. "Please, Miss, may I tell Balak? I shan’t be happy if I doesn’t. We always works together, and it wouldn’t be on the square like." "Was he with you then? And can he keep a secret?" "Yes, Miss, he was with me, and I’d trust him with a gallows secret. I can’t do no good without him." "Then, certainly you may tell him; but not while in this house. Here is my country address, that you may know who you act for. Keep clear of the Police. Keep the whole matter to yourselves. In two days, I leave London; if you discover nothing in that time, write to me here, and I will take good care to have the letters forwarded. Do nothing, but find out that one thing, and when I have verified it, I will pay you the two hundred pounds." "Would you mind, Miss, putting it on paper?" "Yes: for many reasons, I will not write it down. But you are at liberty to inquire who I am, and whether I am likely to disgrace my word." After taking his address, "Balaam Levison, Dove Court, Chancery Lane," I allowed him to depart, and heard him pause on every stair, to ponder this strange matter. Presently Mr. Shelfer came home, and was delighted to see the bailiffs; and the pleasure being mutual, and my cash burning to be quenched, a most hilarious evening was the natural result. My health was drunk, as I could hear too plainly, to unfathomable depths: and comic songs from three loud organs, provided with patent nasal stops, with even Patty’s treble pipe audible in the chorus, broke from time to time the tenour of my sad and lonely thoughts. CHAPTER IV.