ject, on regaining her, foiled (as it probably would have been), what
then might have become of her,--lost, perhaps, forever, to Waife,--in a
foreign land and under such guardianship? Grave question, which Jasper
Losely, who exercised so little foresight in the paramount question,
namely, what some day or other would become of himself? was not likely
to rack his brains by conjecturing!

Meanwhile Mrs. Crane was vigilant. The detective police-officer sent to
her by Mr. Rugge could not give her the information which Rugge
desired, and which she did not longer need. She gave the detective some
information respecting Madame Caumartin. One day towards the evening she
was surprised by a visit from Uncle Sam. He called ostensibly to thank
her for her kindness to his godson and nephew; and to beg her not to
be offended if he had been rude to Mr. Losely, who, he understood from
Dolly, was a particular friend of hers. "You see, ma'am, Samuel Dolly
is a weak young man, and easily led astray; but, luckily for himself,
he has no money and no stomach. So he may repent in time; and if I could
find a wife to manage him, he has not a bad head for the main chance,
and may become a practical man. Repeatedly I have told him he should go
to prison, but that was only to frighten him; fact is, I want to get him
safe down into the country, and he don't take to that. So I am forced to
say, 'My box, home-brewed and South-down, Samuel Dolly, or a Lunnon
jail and debtors' allowance.' Must give a young man his choice, my dear
lady."

Mrs. Crane observing that what he said was extremely sensible, Uncle Sam
warmed in his confidence.

"And I thought I had him, till I found Mr. Losely in his sick-room; but
ever since that day, I don't know how it is, the lad has had something
on his mind, which I don't half like,--cracky, I think, my dear
lady,--cracky. I suspect that old nurse passes letters. I taxed her with
it, and she immediately wanted to take her Bible-oath, and smelt of gin,
two things which, taken together, look guilty."

"But," said Mrs. Crane, growing much interested, "if Mr. Losely and Mr.
Poole do correspond, what then?"

"That's what I want to know, ma'am. Excuse me; I don't wish to disparage
Mr. Losely,--a dashing gent, and nothing worse, I dare say. But certain
sure I am that he has put into Samuel Dolly's head something which has
cracked it! There is the lad now up and dressed, when he ought to be
in bed, and swearing he'll go to o