Thus far they discoursed of it, and then went off to something else. I heard it all, but did not know what to do a great while; but at last, watching the gentleman that went away, when he was gone I ran after him to have spoken to him, intending to have broke it to him, but he went hastily into a room or two full of people at the hither end of the long-room; and when I went to follow, the doorkeepers turned me back, and told me I must not go in there; so I went back, and loitered about near the man that sat behind the board, and hung about there till I found the clock struck twelve, and the room began to be thin of people; and at last he sat there writing, but nobody stood at the board before him, as there had all the rest of the morning. Then I came a little nearer, and stood close to the board, as I did before; when, looking up from his paper, and seeing me, says he to me, “You have been up and down here all this morning, sirrah! What do you want? You have some business that is not very good, I doubt.” “No, I han’t,” said I. “No? It is well if you han’t,” says he. “Pray, what business can you have in the long-room, sir? You are no merchant.” “I would speak with you,” said I. “With me!” says he. “What have you to say to me?” “I have something to say,” said I, “if you will do me no harm for it.” “I do thee harm, child! What harm should I do thee?” and spoke very kindly. “Won’t you indeed, sir?” said I. “No, not I, child; I’ll do thee no harm. What is it? Do you know anything of the gentleman’s letter-case?” I answered, but spoke softly that he could not hear me; so he gets over presently into the seat next him, and opens a place that was made to come out, and bade me come in to him; and I did. Then he asked me again if I knew anything of the letter-case. I spoke softly again, and said folks would hear him. Then he whispered softly, and asked me again. I told him I believed I did, but that, indeed, I had it not, nor had no hand in stealing it, but it was gotten into the hands of a boy that would have burned it, if it had not been for me; and that I heard him say that the gentleman would be glad to have them again, and give a good deal of money for them. “I did say so, child,” said he; “and if you can get them for him, he shall give you a good reward, no less than £30, as he has promised.” “But you said too, sir, to the gentleman just now,” said I, “that you was sure he would not bring them into any harm that should bring them.” “No, you shall come to no harm. I will pass my word for it.” _Boy_. Nor shan’t they make me bring other people into trouble? _Gent_. No; you shall not be asked the name of anybody, nor to tell who they are. _Boy_. I am but a poor boy, and I would fain have the gentleman have his bills; and indeed I did not take them away, nor I han’t got them. _Gent_. But can you tell how the gentleman shall have them? _Boy_. If I can get them, I will bring them to you to-morrow morning.