"Here, boy," cried Poynter, "quick! Fetch a policeman. Half-a-crown." He thrust his hand into his pocket, but at that moment even that outrageously large sum had not the slightest effect upon the boy, who looked quickly round from one to the other till his eyes lit upon Mark, at whom he rushed with the notion of a well-trained dog, seizing him by the arm and breast of his coat, and clinging tightly. "I've got him," he said shrilly. "Fetch the perlice. I've got him, Miss Rich; I see him come that night." Poynter raised his fist, and struck it into his open hand. "I knew it!" he cried. "I knew I was right! Now, Mr Mark Heath, what have you got to say?" "Hendon, lad, lay hold of this boy. He's mad." "No, I ain't," cried Bob. "Had 'nuff to make me, though." "Let go, you dog!" roared Mark. "All right, I'm a-going to," said the boy, shrinking away as Rich came to him. "Bob," she cried, "what is this you're saying?" "Well, I d'know, Miss," he said, scratching his head; "and I don't think now it weer him. But I'll sweer he come and told the doctor as the perlice or some one was after him." "Yes, boy, yes; I did come, but you were not there." "Worn't I? Yes, I was," said the boy, grinning. "I see you come, and you'd got one o' them, long-tail ulcers and a broad-brimmed hat; and the doctor--I say, Miss, is he better?" "Yes, yes, Bob; but pray go on." "I am glad the guvner's better. It scared me. I thought he was a dead 'un." The boy looked round, and gave everybody a confidential nod, including "'Lisbeth," who was standing at the door, crying, and smiling with satisfaction by turns. "But you say you saw me come!" cried Mark, while Poynter stood looking on in triumph. "See you come? Course I did. I know'd you d'reckly, but I don't think it was you as did it." "No, boy, it was not I. But where were you?" "Wheer was I? Ah! you wouldn't know, I was afraid o' the doctor dropping onto me for being there, and I skipped into the bone box." "What!" cried Hendon. "I did, sir, 'strue as goodness. There's lot's o' room, and I could just lift up the lid and peep, and that's how I see him come." "You young rascal?" muttered Hendon; while the doctor sat quietly smiling, as if it were something got up for his special amusement. "Then the doctor he took you into his room, and you had some bran'-water hot. I smelt it. And when he come and got down one o' the bottles, and misked you up a dollop o' physic; and I heared you both a-buzzing away, and talking about wheer you'd been. The doctor kep' coaxing of you, like, to go to sleep, and somehow that sent me off." "What! in that box with those--" "Oh, yes, I don't mind them. I often nips in there when any one's coming." "Did you hear anything else, Bob?" said Rich excitedly, as she held the boy's hand.