ak. Find out what it is and bring me a sample. Look
sharp!"

"Right you are, sir," answered in excellent Cockney the undersized
person addressed. "I'll spread one of me famous 'Tickle Tootsies'
and nip in and ketch the bloomin' 'awk as soon as the josser's back
is turned, guv'ner. I'm off, as the squib said to the match when it
started blowin' of him up." Then the face disappeared again, and
the child and the two men were again alone together.

"Good God, man!" exclaimed the Honourable Felix in a lowered voice of
strong excitement. "You can't possibly believe that he--that dear,
lovable boy----Oh, it is beyond belief!"

"Nothing is 'beyond belief' in _my_ line, my friend. Recollect that
even Lucifer was an angel _once_. I know the means employed to
bring about this"--touching softly the three red spots on his
little lordship's neck--"but I have yet to decide how the thing
is administered and by whom. Frankly I do not believe it is done
with a bird's beak--though that, too, is possible, wild as it
seems--but by this time to-morrow I promise you the riddle shall be
solved. Sh-h! Don't speak--he's coming back. Take the boy into your
own room to-night, but leave the door unfastened. I'm coming down to
watch by him with you. Let him first be put into the regular nursery,
however, then take him out without the knowledge of any living
soul--of _any_, you hear?--and I will be with you before midnight."

* * * * *

That night two curious things happened: The first was that at a
quarter to seven, when Martha, the nursemaid, coming up into the
nursery to put his little lordship to bed, found Lieutenant
Deland--who was supposed to be dressing for dinner at the
time--standing in the middle of the room looking all about the place.

"Don't be startled, Nurse," he said, as he looked round and saw her.
"Your master has asked me to design a new decoration for this room,
and I'm having a peep about in quest of inspiration. Ah, Strathmere,
'Dustman's time,' I see. Pleasant dreams to you, old chap. See you
in the morning when you're awake."

"Say good night to the gentleman, your lordship," said the nurse,
laying both hands on his shoulders and leading him forward, whereupon
he began to whine sleepily: "Want Sambo! Want Sambo!" and to rub his
fists into his eyes.

"Yes, dearie, Nanny'll get Sambo for your lordship after your
lordship has said good night to the gentleman," soothed the nurse