me the way to the Docks where the P and O steamers
come in?" said he.

The man let drop his match and stared at the boy.

"Vy," said he with an odd shrug, "that is some long walks from here.
_Mais, comment_. Vas you not at ze Christy Minstrel to-night viz a nice
gentleman?"

"Rather!" said the boy. "Were you there? I say, wasn't it a clipping
turn out? I did like it, especially the break-down. I say, I'm lost.
The fellow who was looking after me has lost me."

"Oh, you 'ave lost 'im. I am 'appy you to find. You sall not valk to
ze Dock, no. I sall give you sleeps at ze hotel, and to-morrow you sall
find zat dear gentleman. Come wiz me."

"Oh, but you know, he'll be looking for me; besides, I've got no tin.
Father forgot to leave me any. I'd better go to the Docks, I say."

"You sall not. Zey will be all shut fast zere. No, my dear friend, you
sall come sleep at my hotel, and you sall have nothings to pay. It will
be all right. I would die for to help ze friend of my friend."

"Is Mr Armstrong a friend of yours?" asked the boy. "I thought you
were only cheeking him that time in the Hall. Oh, all right, if you
know him. Thanks awfully."

Gustav, as delighted as a cat who has found her kitten, led the boy off
jubilantly to his third-rate hotel off the Strand, taking the
precaution, as he passed, to leave word at the Hall that if a gentleman
called who had lost a boy, he should be told where he would find him.

He smuggled Tom up to his own garret, and made him royally welcome with
three-quarters of his scanty supper and the whole of his narrow bed,
sleeping himself on the floor cheerfully for the sake of the _cher ami_
who had that night promised to go to Paris to hold the hand of his dying
father.

About three in the morning there was a loud ringing of the bell and a
sound of steps and voices on the stairs, and presently Mr Armstrong
entered the room.

Gustav sprang up with his finger on his lips, pointing to the sleeping
boy.

"Oh, _mon ami_," whispered he, "'ow 'appy I am you 'ave found 'im. But
I keep him ver' safe. I love to do it, for you are ver' good to me and
the _pauvre pere_. He sall rest here till to-day, vile you (helas! that
I have no two beds to offer you), you sall take one in ze hotel, and at
morning we sall all be 'appy together."

Mr Armstrong grimly accepted this proposal, and took a room for the
night at Gustav's hotel.

The next morning, scarcely waiting to take b