ng some further question, or
reverting to that from which the discourse had strayed. But, from the
point where Mr Codlin was charged with sleepiness, he had shown an
increasing interest in the discussion: which now attained a very high
pitch.

'You are the two men I want,' he said, 'the two men I have been looking
for, and searching after! Where are that old man and that child you
speak of?'

'Sir?' said Short, hesitating, and looking towards his friend.

'The old man and his grandchild who travelled with you--where are they?
It will be worth your while to speak out, I assure you; much better
worth your while than you believe. They left you, you say--at those
races, as I understand. They have been traced to that place, and there
lost sight of. Have you no clue, can you suggest no clue, to their
recovery?'

'Did I always say, Thomas,' cried Short, turning with a look of
amazement to his friend, 'that there was sure to be an inquiry after
them two travellers?'

'YOU said!' returned Mr Codlin. 'Did I always say that that 'ere
blessed child was the most interesting I ever see? Did I always say I
loved her, and doated on her? Pretty creetur, I think I hear her now.
"Codlin's my friend," she says, with a tear of gratitude a trickling
down her little eye; "Codlin's my friend," she says--"not Short.
Short's very well," she says; "I've no quarrel with Short; he means
kind, I dare say; but Codlin," she says, "has the feelings for my
money, though he mayn't look it."'

Repeating these words with great emotion, Mr Codlin rubbed the bridge
of his nose with his coat-sleeve, and shaking his head mournfully from
side to side, left the single gentleman to infer that, from the moment
when he lost sight of his dear young charge, his peace of mind and
happiness had fled.

'Good Heaven!' said the single gentleman, pacing up and down the room,
'have I found these men at last, only to discover that they can give me
no information or assistance! It would have been better to have lived
on, in hope, from day to day, and never to have lighted on them, than
to have my expectations scattered thus.'

'Stay a minute,' said Short. 'A man of the name of Jerry--you know
Jerry, Thomas?'

'Oh, don't talk to me of Jerrys,' replied Mr Codlin. 'How can I care a
pinch of snuff for Jerrys, when I think of that 'ere darling child?
"Codlin's my friend," she says, "dear, good, kind Codlin, as is always
a devising pleasures for me! I don't