"She ran
off the morning you came gallivanting after her."
Adrien could have knocked the man down, but he restrained the longing,
and said instead:
"I thought you told me she'd robbed you, and had run away? That was a
lie, I suppose?"
"'Course it was. Who wouldn't lie to save his gal from such as you fine
gentlemen? I know yer, so it's no use coming this talky-talky surprise
with me. You just tell me where she is."
"I tell you," reiterated Adrien, "I have never seen the child since the
night I took her from the cold. Stand out of my path, or I shall hand
you over to the police."
Mr. Wilfer laughed.
"So that's your answer, is it? Call away, my fine gentleman, call away."
He glanced round the deserted path from the corner of his shifty eyes;
then, with a snarl of a savage beast, he sprang upon Leroy, and strove
to bring him to the ground.
But he was no match for Adrien, who beneath all his listless mannerism
possessed a grasp of steel and the strength of a gladiator. Almost
shuddering at the touch of the man's greasy clothes, Leroy seized his
arms, and lifting him off the ground as though he were a terrier, gave
him a good shake; then he dropped him, lightly and easily, over the park
railings, which edged the by-path, where they stood.
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