"Well, you see, gov'nor, it sounded like Bella Meer, or Mee-her. `Take keer; Bella Mee-her,' he says just like that." "Bella mia," muttered Tom. "Yes, sir, that's it, sir; that were the young lady's name; and then he jumps in, and I shoves down the apron, and he pokes the trap-door open, and away they goes down the Place like one o'clock." "Well?" said Tom. "That's about all, gov'nor," said the man, looking into his dilapidated hat, and then lifting and peeping inside the lining, as if he expected to find some more there. "No, it ain't," said the constable, "come now. He give you something, didn't he?" "Well, s'pose he did," said the man, sulkily; "that ain't got nothing to do with it, 'ave it? The gent don't want to rob a pore man of his 'ard earnin's, do he?" "What did he give you, my man?" said Tom, eagerly, "There, there, show me. Not that it matters." "Yes, sir, excuse me, but it does matter," said the constable. "Now then, out with it." The man thrust his hand very unwillingly into his pocket, and brought out what looked like a small shilling, which was eagerly snatched by Tom. "Vittoria Emanuele--Lira. Why, constable, it's an Italian piece!" "That's so, sir," said the constable. "There, be off with you; there's half a crown for you," said Tom. "Constable," he cried, as the latter closed the door on the walking rag-bag, "quick, not a moment to be lost. That cabman's number, and as soon as you can." "Right, sir; that's first job," said the constable. "You'll be here?" "Yes, till you come back. Spare no expense to get that number." The constable was off almost before the words had left his lips, and as the door closed Tom turned to Sir Grantley, who still stood with his head leaning upon his hand. "Now then," he said, "what are you going to do?" "Don't know," was the reply. "It looks bad," said Tom, "but I won't believe it yet." "No--poor girl," said the baronet, sadly--"I'm beginning to think she didn't care for me, don't you know." Tom stared at him wonderingly. "Are you going to help me run them down?" "Yas--no--I don't know," said the baronet. "I suppose I ought to shoot that fellow--Belgium or somewhere--if there is a fellow. But I don't think there is." "You don't?" said Tom. "No," said the baronet, slowly. "But you heard? She must have gone off with somebody. You know what the people think. If it is so, she must be saved at all costs." "Yas--of course," said the baronet, slowly; "but--don't think it. Poor girl, she was a lady--she couldn't stoop to it--no--couldn't--she'd sooner have married me." "Wilters," said Tom, holding out his hand and speaking huskily, "thank you for that. We never liked one another, and I've been a confounded cad to you sometimes; but--but--you--you're a gentleman, Wilters, a true gentleman." They shook hands in silence, and then Tom said eagerly-- "You'll come with me?"