"And that's what's the matter with it. What's more, you come to me. Now," with continued candour, "I ain't what you might call a model Christian; but likewise you don't reckon me the sort that would help you pick up orphans just for the fun of handin' 'em over to you to starve. So I conclude," Mr. Hucks wound up, "there's money in this somewhere." Doctor Glasson did not answer for a few seconds. He seemed to be considering. His eyes blinked, and the folds of his lean throat worked as if he swallowed down something. "I will be frank with you, Mr. Hucks," he said at length. "There may or may not be, as you put it, money in this. I have kept this child for close upon eight years, and during the last two the Orphanage has not received one penny of payment. He was brought to us at the age of two by a seafaring man, who declared positively that the child was not his, that he was legitimate, and that he had relatives in good position. The man would not tell me their names, but gave me his own and his address--a coast-guard station on the East coast. You will pardon my keeping these back until I know that you will help me." "Go on." "Sufficiently good terms were offered, and for six years my charges were regularly met without question. Then payment ceased. My demands for an explanation came back through the Dead Letter Office, and when I followed them up by a journey to the address given, it was to learn that my man--a chief boatman in the coast-guard service--had died three months before, leaving no effects beyond a pound or two and the contents of his sea-chest--no will--and, so far as could be traced, no kith or kin. So far, Mr. Hucks, the business does not look promising." "All right, Glasson. You keep a child for two years on charity, and then get into a sweat on losing him. I trust your scent, and am not disheartened--yet." "The boy has considerable natural refinement." "You didn't keep him for _that_?" "It has often suggested to me that his parentage was out of the ordinary--that he probably has relatives at least--er--well-to-do. But the main point is that he did not escape to-day of his own accord. He was kidnapped, and in circumstances that convince me there has been a deliberate plot. To my mind it is incredible that these children, without collusion--" But here Doctor Glasson pulled himself up and sat blinking. "Eh? Was there more than one?" queried Mr. Hucks, sharp as a knife.