“He was at the railway station in the arms of a poor woman. _I_ saw him, and _I_ heard him.” “Oh, Dick, why did you not bring him to me at once?” “Dear Drusilla, I did not then know that he was lost. I had just stepped from the carriage to the platform, when I heard little Lenny’s voice calling me in a strong, chirping, authoritative little tone, ‘Dit! Dit! tome here!’ And I looked around, expecting to see him and all of you come to meet me. But I saw nothing of any of you. I only saw a poor woman with a child about Lenny’s age and size covered with a shawl and in her arms. Her back was towards me, and she was hurrying away through the crowd. That child was little Lenny, though I did not know it or even suspect it at the time; for I only glanced at him and turned to look for little Lenny elsewhere, expecting to find him with his nurse. When I failed to do so, I thought I had been the subject of an ocular illusion. But when I came home here, and learned that little Lenny was lost, I understood the whole thing. And I went immediately to Scotland Yard and gave the information and set the detectives on the fresh scent. They are as keen as bloodhounds, you know, and they will be sure to find your child. So you need not be surprised to see him brought in and laid upon your lap at any moment.” Another lightning flash of joy passed over her face at this announcement. “Oh, Dick! Dick! you give me new life! You saw my child two hours ago! Did you see his face?” she eagerly inquired. “Of course not, else I should have claimed him and brought him home. He was covered with a shawl, I tell you, and hurried through the crowd. I did not know he was Lenny till afterwards.” “But you heard his voice, and you knew that?” “Oh, yes, I knew his voice; but I did not at the moment know where the voice came from.” “Oh, Dick, what was it he said? dear little Lenny! tell me again.” Dick repeated the words. “And oh, Dick, did he speak sadly, piteously, imploringly as if he was suffering, and wanted you to relieve him?” “No, indeed! quite the contrary! he hailed me in his usual hearty manner; and commanded me to come to him, just as he is accustomed to speak to all of us, his slaves, when he is lording it over us and ordering us around,” said Dick, so cheerfully that he called up a wan smile upon the poor young mother’s face. “Now, I’ll tell you all about it, Drusilla,” pursued Dick confidently. “The fact is, the child must have been stolen first, for the sake of the fine lace and gold and coral on his dress; and now he is kept for his beauty to beg with. No doubt, now that the clue is found, he will be recovered in a few hours. And I want you to bear this fact in mind—that you need not be surprised at any moment to see your child brought in and laid upon your lap. Keep that hope before you, and let it support your soul through this suspense, and let it prepare you for the event, so that you may not die of joy when it comes,” said Richard Hammond.