“Oh! Was he a friend of Sarah’s?” “Oh, yes! I think she must have been in love with him when she was young, and he must have been a very bad man who made her do anything he liked; and the most curious part of it is that she--she mixes his name up with the people she knows now,” said I, lowering my voice still more. “How?” asked Mr. Rayner. “Whose name does she mix his up with?” “Why, with--with mine, Mr. Rayner!” said I, blushing uncomfortably at the very thought. “She kept saying in her ravings that this wicked forger--for she said he was a forger--James Woodfall, was in love with me and wanted to marry me, and that he wanted her to help to marry this common thief to me. Wasn’t it dreadful to have to listen to that?” whispered I excitedly. “Did she say James Woodfall was a common thief?” “No, I gathered that from what she said. Did you ever hear of him, Mr. Rayner?” “Yes, I have heard of him, and I believe he is alive now,” said he. “Then I believe that she is in love with him still, and that he is at the bottom of this dreadful robbery!” cried I, much excited. “Oh, Mr. Rayner, couldn’t you find out from Sarah where he is now, while the detective is here, and get him caught?” I said breathlessly. Mr. Rayner shook his head thoughtfully. “I am afraid not, my dear child. If James Woodfall is the man I mean, he will never be taken alive,” said he. CHAPTER XXVII. Mr. Rayner slept that night in the dressing-room leading out of the large front room which his wife now occupied. I met him coming out of it as I went downstairs to breakfast the next morning. I spent the hours until dinner-time in my own room, packing and preparing for the journey the next day. It was curious, I thought, that I had not heard again from my mother, who would naturally be overflowing with excitement about such a great event. I had written a long letter to her on Monday, and put it into the post-bag, with no misgivings as to its safety now that my enemy Sarah was ill. It was a very pleasant thing to think that I should soon be with my mother again, and that in a few days I should see Laurence; but there was a less bright view to be taken of the expedition, and from time to time, in the midst of my happy anticipation, it troubled me.