"Oh yes," said the philanthropist frankly, by the late train; "but
what he did in the meantime, and where he went, I can't say. He
refused to give an account of himself."
"Shrewd little devil," said Allen; "but I think I know."
"I trust it has nothing to do with the police," said the gentleman
anxiously; "a detective asked after Butsey. I gave him the address
of Father Don in Perry Street, but the lad could not be found. The
detective refused to say why the lad was wanted, and I hope he'll
not come to harm. If you find him, bring him to me, and I'll see
what I can do to save him. It's a terrible thing to think that an
immortal soul and a clever lad should remain in the depths."
Allen assented politely, promised to do what he could towards
bringing about the reformation of Butsey, and went his way. He
privately thought that to make Butsey a decent member of society
would be next door to impossible, for the lad seemed to be quite a
criminal, and education might only make him the more dangerous to
the well-being of the community. However he reserved his opinion
on this point, and got back to his Woburn rooms to explain to
Horace. The big American--for he virtually was a Yankee--nodded
gravely.
"We'll go down this very night," he said. "I guess we'd best put on
old togs, leave our valuables at home, and carry six-shooters."
"Do you think that last is necessary?" asked Allen anxiously.
"It's just as well to be on the safe side, Hill. If this boy is
employed by Father Don and his gang, he won't be let go without a
fight. Maybe he knows too much for the safety of the gang."
"That's very probable," assented Hill drily; "however, we'll take
all precautions, and go to Perry Street."
"This is what I call enjoyment," said Horace, stretching his long
limbs. "I'm not a quarrelsome man, but, by Gosh, I'm just spoiling
for a fight."
"I think there's every chance we'll get what you want, Parkins."
So the matter was arranged, and after dinner the two men changed
into shabby clothes. It was raining heavily, and they put on
overcoats, scarves, and wore slouch hats. Both carried revolvers, and
thus they felt ready for any emergency. As Allen knew London
comparatively well, he took the lead, and conducted Horace to
Aldgate Station by the underground railway. Here they picked up a cab
and went to Whitechapel. The driver knew Perry Street but refused
to go near it, on the plea that it was a dangerous locality. However,
he deposited the two near the place, and drove away in the rain,
leaving Allen and Horace in a somewhat dark street. A search for a
guide produced a ragged boy of the Butsey type, who volunteered to
show the way to Father Don's den. "You've got some swag to send up
the spout, gents both?" leered the brat, looking up to the big men
as they stood under a lamp-post.
"Just so," said Horace quickly, thinking this a good excuse; "you
engineer us along, sonny, and we'll give you a shilling."