glass or two, and that he had no doubt but that if he could contrive
to make him tipsy, in a few days he would have some important
intelligence to communicate. I was in a state of great mental agitation
during this time. I went to Mr Masterton, and narrated to him all that
had passed. He was surprised and amused, and desired me not to fail to
let him have the earliest intelligence of what came to light. He had
not received any answer as yet from his agent in Dublin.

It was not until eight days afterwards that I received further
communication from Timothy; and I was in a state of great impatience,
combined with anxiety, lest any accident should have happened. His
communication was important. He was on the most intimate footing with
the man, who had proposed that he should assist him to carry off a
little girl, who was at a school at Brentford. They had been consulting
how this should be done, and Timothy had proposed forging a letter,
desiring her to come up to town, and his carrying it as a livery
servant. The man had also other plans, one of which was to obtain an
entrance into the house by making acquaintance with the servants;
another, by calling to his aid some of the women of his fraternity to
tell fortunes: nothing was as yet decided, but that he was resolved to
obtain possession of the little girl, even if he were obliged to resort
to force. In either case Timothy was engaged to assist.

When I read this, I more than congratulated myself upon the man's being
on the wrong scent, and that Timothy had hit upon his scheme. Timothy
continued;--that they had indulged in very deep potations last night,
and that the man had not scrupled to say that he was employed by a
person of large fortune, who paid well, and whom it might not be
advisable to refuse, as he had great power. After some difficulty, he
asked Timothy if he had ever heard the name of Melchior in his tribe.
Timothy replied that he had, and that at the gathering he had seen him
and his wife. Timothy at one time thought that the man was about to
reveal everything, but of a sudden he stopped short, and gave evasive
answers. To a question put by Timothy, as to where they were to take
the child if they obtained possession of her, the man had replied, that
she would go over the water. Such were the contents of the letter, and
I eagerly awaited a further communication.

The next day I called at Long's Hotel upon a gentleman with whom I was
upon int