to lose my temper, but I've taken pattern by
Polly--I mean Miss Sparkes--and now I do it quietly. That reminds
me"--his look changed to seriousness--"do you know anyone of the name
of Quodling?"

Polly--to whom he spoke--answered with a dry negative.

"Sure? Try and think if you ever heard your uncle speak of the name."

The girl's eyes fell as if, for some reason, she felt a momentary
embarrassment. It passed, but in replying she looked away from Mr.
Gammon.

"Quodling? Never heard it--why?"

"Why, there is a man called Quodling who might be your uncle's twin
brother--he looks so like him. I caught sight of him in the City, and
tracked him till I got to know his place of business and his name. For
a minute or two I thought I'd found your uncle; I really did. Gosh! I
said to myself, there's Clover at last! I wonder I didn't pin him like
a bull terrier. But, as you know, I'm cautious--that's how I've made my
fortune, Polly."

Miss Sparkes neither observed the joke nor resented the name; she was
listening with a preoccupied air.

"You'll never find _him_," said Mrs. Bubb, shaking her head.

"Don't be so sure of that. I shan't lose sight of this man Quodling.
It's the strangest likeness I ever saw, and I shan't be satisfied till
I've got to know if he has any connexion with the name of Clover. It
ain't easy to get at, but I'll manage it somehow. Now, if I had Polly
to help me--I mean Miss Sparkes--"

With a muttering of impatience the girl rose; in the same moment she
drew from her belt a gold watch, and deliberately consulted it.
Observing this Mrs. Bubb looked towards Mr. Gammon, who, also
observant, returned the glance.

"I shan't want dinner," Polly remarked in an off-hand way as she moved
towards the door.

"Going to see Mrs. Clover?" Gammon inquired.

"I'm sick of going there. It's always the same talk."

"Wait till _your_ 'usband runs away from you and stays away for five
years," said Mrs. Bubb with a renewal of anger, "and then see what
_you_ find to talk about."

Polly laughed and went away humming.

"If it wasn't that I feel afraid for her," continued Mrs. Bubb in a
lower voice, "I'd give that young woman notice to quit. Her cheek's
getting past everything. Did you see her gold watch and chain?"

"Yes, I did; where does it come from?"

"That's more than _I_ can tell you, Mr. Gammon. I don't want to think
ill of the girl, but there's jolly queer goin's-on. And she's so brazen
about it! I do