interrupted Marchmont shortly; adding to himself, "That explains his son's presence in Montreal." "Well, this Bishop," continued the tramp, "used to talk about his palace at Blanford; and when the party give me the go-by, I gathered from the porter as took their traps that they'd gone to England; and the elevator-boy, he heard the Bishop say to the little actress as they'd be as safe at the palace as they would anywhere. And then I come on to New York and blew it into you." "Yes," said Marchmont, "and I've given[Pg 176] you a first-class passage to England, paid your board and lodging, and kept you full for the best part of three weeks; and what do I get out of it?" [Pg 176] "I admit as we haven't had much results as yet," said the tramp. "But now things is goin' to hum. The Bishop and his whole gang's coming over to these very ruins to-day." "How did you find that out?" demanded the journalist. "Footman up to the palace told me. I give him a little jamboree last night at the 'Three Jolly Sailor-boys.'" "Yes, and had to be carried home dead-drunk. Nice one you are to keep a secret." "Well, I was only a-doin' me duty," said the tramp in an aggrieved tone of voice, "and if they don't know you're after 'em, and you should happen to be inspectin' the ruins at the same time as they are, you could get chummy with 'em without half tryin'." "I'll attend to that," said the newspaper man. "I've just had a cable from the Daily[Pg 177] Leader telling me to hustle if I want to get that position, and I've got to do something, and do it quick. But it'll never do for you to be seen. Once they know we're together, the game's up. I can't have you larking round with the servants either. You'll spoil the whole show. You've got to go back to Dullhampton this afternoon." [Pg 177] "What! that little one-horse fishing-town?" "Yes, that's where you're wanted. It's the nearest port to Blanford, and it's where they'll try and get out of the country if they're hard pressed. You just stay there and keep your eyes open till you hear from me." The tramp growled surlily, and reluctantly prepared to obey.
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