"What's that to you?" answers a shrill voice from among soapsuds and steaming rags. "Here is a gentleman wants to speak to him." "So do a many as won't have that pleasure, and would be little the better for it if they had. Get along with you, I knows your lay." "We really want to speak to him, and to pay him, if he will--" "Go along! I'm up to the something to your advantage dodge, and to the mustachio dodge too. Do you fancy I don't know a bailiff, because he's dressed like a swell?" "But, my good woman!" said Tom, laughing. "You put your crocodile foot in here, and I'll hit the hot water over the both of you!" and she caught up the pan of soapsuds. "My dear soul! I am a doctor belonging to the hospital which your husband goes to; and have known him since he was a boy, down in Berkshire." "You?" and she looked keenly at him. "My name is Thurnall. I was a medical man once in Whitbury, where your husband was born." "You?" said she again, in a softened tone, "I knows that name well enough." "You do? What was your name, then?" said Tom, who recognised the woman's Berkshire accent beneath its coat of cockneyism. "Never you mind: I'm no credit to it, so I'll let it be. But come in, for the old county's sake. Can't offer you a chair, he's pawned 'em all. Pleasant old place it was down there, when I was a young girl; they say it's grow'd a grand place now, wi' a railroad. I think many times I'd like to go down and die there." She spoke in a rough, sullen, careless tone, as if life-weary. "My good woman," said Major Campbell, a little impatiently, "can you find your husband for us?" "Why then?" asked she sharply, her suspicion seeming to return. "If he will answer a few questions, I will give him five shillings. If he can find out for me what I want, I will give him five pounds." "Shouldn't I do as well? If you gi' it he, it's little out of it I shall see, but he coming home tipsy when it's spent. Ah, dear! it was a sad day for me when I first fell in with they play-goers!" "Why should she not do it as well?" said Thurnall. "Mrs. Barker, do you know anything of a person named Briggs--John Briggs, the apothecary's son, at Whitbury?" She laughed a harsh bitter laugh. "Know he? yes, and too much reason. That was where it all begun, along of that play-going of he's and my master's." "Have you seen him lately?" asked Campbell, eagerly. "I seen 'un? I'd hit this water over the fellow, and all his play-acting merryandrews, if ever he sot a foot here!" "But have you heard of him?" "Ees--" said she carelessly; "he's round here now, I heard my master say, about the 'Delphy, with my master: a drinking, I suppose. No good, I'll warrant." "My good woman," said Campbell, panting for breath, "bring me face to face with that man, and I'll put a five-pound note in your hand there and then." "Five pounds is a sight to me: but it's a sight more than the sight of he's worth," said she suspiciously again.