a queer-looking man, in a white hat, called
at the same time I did, to see you on private business, gave way to me,
said he should come again; may I ask who he is?"

"I cannot guess; no one ever calls here on business except the
tax-gatherer."

The old woman-servant now entered. "A gentleman, ma'am; says his name is
Rugge."

"Rugge,--Rugge; let me think."

"I am here, Mrs. Crane," said the manager, striding in. "You don't,
perhaps, call me to mind by name; but--oho! not gone, sir! Do I intrude
prematurely?"

"No, I have done; good-day, my dear Mrs. Crane."

"Stay, Jasper. I remember you now, Mr. Rugge; take a chair."

She whispered a few words into Losely's ear, then turned to the manager,
and said aloud, "I saw you at Mr. Waife's lodging, at the time he had
that bad accident."

"And I had the honour to accompany you home, ma'am, and--but shall I
speak out before this gentleman?"

"Certainly; you see he is listening to you with attention. This
gentleman and I have no secrets from each other. What has become of that
person? This gentleman wishes to know."

LOSELY.--"Yes, sir, I wish to know-particularly."

RUGGE.--"So do I; that is partly what I came about. You are aware, I
think, ma'am, that I engaged him and Juliet Araminta, that is, Sophy."

LOSELY.--"Sophy? engaged them, sir,--how?"

RUGGE.--"Theatrical line, sir,--Rugge's Exhibition; he was a great actor
once, that fellow Waife."

LOSELY.--"Oh, actor! well, sir, go on."

RUGGE (who in the course of his address turns from the lady to the
gentleman, from the gentleman to the lady, with appropriate gesture and
appealing look).--"But he became a wreck, a block of a man; lost an eye
and his voice too. How ever, to serve him, I took his grandchild and him
too. He left me--shamefully, and ran off with his grandchild, sir.
Now, ma'am, to be plain with you, that little girl I looked upon as my
property,--a very valuable property. She is worth a great deal to me,
and I have been done out of her. If you can help me to get her back,
articled and engaged say for three years, I am willing and happy, ma'am,
to pay something handsome,--uncommon handsome."

MRS. CRANE (loftily).--"Speak to that gentleman; he may treat with you."

LOSELY.--"What do you call uncommon handsome, Mr.--Mr. Tugge?"

RUGGE.--"Rugge! Sir; we sha'n't disagree, I hope, provided you have the
power to get Waife to bind the girl to me."

LOSELY.--"I may have the power to transfer the youn