"I've had my eye upon the baronet ever since you put me up to watching
him; and there's precious little he could do without my spotting him. I
know what letters he has written, and I know more or less what has been
in those letters. I know what people he has seen, and more or less what
he has said to them; and I don't see that it's possible he could have
carried on such a game as this abduction of Missy without my having an
inkling of it."
"But what of his ally--his bosom-friend and confederate--Victor
Carrington? May not his treacherous hand have struck this blow?"
"I think not, my lady," replied Mr. Larkspur. "I've had my eye upon
that gentleman likewise, as per agreement; for when Andrew Larkspur
guarantees to do a thing, he ain't the man to do it by halves. I've
kept a close watch upon Mr. Carrington; and with the exception of his
_parleyvous francais_-ing with that sharp-nosed, shabby-genteel lady-
companion of Madame Durski's, there's very few of _his_ goings-on I
haven't been able to reckon up to a fraction. No, my lady, there's some
one else in this business; and who that some one else is, it'll be my
duty to find out. But I can't do anything till I get on the ground.
When I get on the ground, and have had time to look about me, I shall
be able to form an opinion."
Honoria was fain to be patient, to put her trust in heaven, and,
beneath heaven, in this pragmatical little police-officer, who really
felt as much compassion for her sorrow as it was possible for a man so
steeped in the knowledge of crime and iniquity, and so hardened by
contact with the worst side of the world, to feel for any human grief.
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