on　her。　　Servants　were　sent　out　right　and　left；　but　nothing
  discovered；　and　the　agonized　mother；　terrified　out　of　her　wits；　had
  Falcon　telegraphed　to　immediately。
  He　came　galloping　down　that　very　evening；　and　heard　the　story。　　He
  galloped　into　Gravesend；　and　after　seeing　the　police；　sent　word　out
  he　should　advertise。　　He　placarded　Gravesend　with　bills；　offering　a
  reward　of　a　thousand　pounds；　the　child　to　be　brought　to　him；　and　no
  questions　asked。
  Meantime　the　police　and　many　of　the　neighboring　gentry　came　about
  the　miserable　mother　with　their　vague　ideas。
  Down　comes　Falcon　again　next　day；　tells　what　he　has　done；　and
  treats　them　all　with　contempt。　　〃Don't　you　be　afraid；　Mrs。
  Staines；〃　said　he。　　〃You　will　get　him　back。　　I　have　taken　the　sure
  way。　　This　sort　of　rogues　dare　not　go　near　the　police；　and　the
  police　can't　find　them。　　You　have　no　enemies；　it　is　only　some　woman
  that　has　fancied　a　beautiful　child。　　Well；　she　can　have　them　by　the
  score；　for　a　thousand　pounds。〃
  He　was　the　only　one　with　a　real　idea；　the　woman　saw　it；　and　clung
  to　him。　　He　left　late　at　night。
  Next　morning　out　came　the　advertisements；　and　he　sent　her　a　handful
  by　special　messenger。　　His　zeal　and　activity　kept　her　bereaved
  heart　from　utter　despair。
  At　eleven　that　night　came　a　telegraph：
  〃I　have　got　him。　　Coming　down　by　special　train。〃
  Then　what　a　burst　of　joy　and　gratitude！　　The　very　walls　of　the
  house　seemed　to　ring　with　it　as　a　harp　rings　with　music。　　A　special
  train；　too！　he　would　not　let　the　mother　yearn　all　night。
  At　one　in　the　morning　he　drove　up　with　the　child　and　a　hired　nurse。
  Imagine　the　scene！　　The　mother's　screams　of　joy；　her　furious
  kisses；　her　cooing；　her　tears；　and　all　the　miracles　of　nature　at
  such　a　time。　　The　servants　all　mingled　with　their　employers　in　the
  general　rapture；　and　Emily；　who　was　pale　as　death；　cried　and
  sobbed；　and　said；　〃Oh；　ma'am；　I'll　never　let　him　out　of　my　sight
  again；　no；　not　for　one　minute。〃　　Falcon　made　her　a　signal；　and　went
  out。　　She　met　him　in　the　garden。
  She　was　much　agitated；　and　cried；　〃Oh；　you　did　well　to　bring　him
  to…day。　　I　could　not　have　kept　it　another　hour。　　I'm　a　wretch。〃
  〃You　are　a　good　kind　girl；　and　here's　the　fifty　pounds　I　promised
  you。〃
  〃Well；　and　I　have　earned　it。〃
  〃Of　course　you　have。　　Meet　me　in　the　garden　to…morrow　morning；　and
  I'll　show　you　you　have　done　a　kind　thing　to　your　mistress；　as　well
  as　me。　　And　as　for　the　fifty　pounds；　that　is　NOTHING；　do　you　hear？
  it　is　nothing　at　all；　compared　with　what　I　will　do　for　you；　if　you
  will　be　true　to　me；　and　hold　your　tongue。〃
  〃Oh！　as　for　that；　my　tongue　shan't　betray　you；　nor　shame　ME。　　You
  are　a　gentleman；　and　I　do　think　you　love　her；　or　I　would　not　help
  you。〃
  So　she　salved　her　nursemaid's　consciencewith　the　help　of　the
  fifty　pounds。
  The　mother　was　left　to　her　rapture　that　night。　　In　the　morning
  Falcon　told　his　tale。
  〃At　two　P。M。　a　man　had　called　on　him；　and　had　produced　one　of　his
  advertisements；　and　had　asked　him　if　that　was　all　squareno
  bobbies　on　the　lurk。　　'All　square；　my　fine　fellow。'　　'Well；'　said
  he；　'I　suppose　you　are　a　gentleman。'　　'I　am　of　that　opinion　too。'
  'Well；　sir；'　says　he；　'I　know　a　party　as　has　FOUND　a　young　gent　as
  comes　werry　nigh　your　advertisement。'　　'It　will　be　a　very　lucky
  find　to　that　party；'　I　said；　'if　he　is　on　the　square。'　　'Oh；　WE　are
  always　on　the　square；　when　the　blunt　is　put　down。'　　'The　blunt　for
  the　child；　when　you　like；　and　where　you　like；'　said　I。　　'You　are
  the　right　sort；'　said　he。　　'I　am；'　replied　I。　　'Will　you　come　and
  see　if　it　is　all　right？'　said　he。　　'In　a　minute；'　said　I。　　Stepped
  into　my　bedroom；　and　loaded　my　six…shooter。〃
  〃What　is　that？〃　said　Lusignan。
  〃A　revolver　with　six　barrels：　by　the　by；　the　very　same　I　killed　the
  lion　with。　　Ugh！　I　never　think　of　that　scene　without　feeling　a
  little　quiver；　and　my　nerves　are　pretty　good；　too。　　Well；　he　took
  me　into　an　awful　part　of　the　town；　down　a　filthy　close；　into　some
  boozing　kenI　beg　pardon；　some　thieves'　public…house。〃
  〃Oh；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　Rosa；　〃were　you　not　frightened？〃
  〃Shall　I　tell　you　the　truth；　or　play　the　hero？　　I　think　I'll　tell
  YOU　the　truth。　　I　felt　a　little　frightened；　lest　they　should　get　my
  money　and　my　life；　without　my　getting　my　godson：　that　is　what　I
  call　him　now。　　Well；　two　ugly　dogs　came　in；　and　said；　'Let　us　see
  the　flimsies；　before　you　see　the　kid。'
  〃'That　is　rather　sharp　practice；　I　think；'　said　I；　'however；　here's
  the　swag；　and　here's　the　watch…dog。'　　So　I　put　down　the　notes；　and
  my　hand　over　them　with　my　revolver　cocked；　and　ready　to　fire。〃
  〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Rosa　pantingly。　　〃Ah；　you　were　a　match　for　them。〃
  〃Well；　Mrs。　Staines；　if　I　was　writing　you　a　novel；　I　suppose　I
  should　tell　you　the　rogues　recoiled；　but　the　truth　is　they　only
  laughed；　and　were　quite　pleased。　　'Swell's　in　earnest；'　said　one；
  'Jem；　show　the　kid。'　　Jem　whistled；　and　in　came　a　great　tall　black
  gypsy　woman；　with　the　darling。　　My　heart　was　in　my　mouth；　but　I
  would　not　let　them　see　it。　　I　said；　'It　is　all　right。　　Take　half
  the　notes　here；　and　half　at　the　door。'　　They　agreed；　and　then　I　did
  it　quick；　walked　to　the　door；　took　the　child；　gave　them　the　odd
  notes；　and　made　off　as　fast　as　I　could；　hired　a　nurse　at　the
  hospitaland　the　rest　you　know。〃
  〃Papa；〃　said　Rosa；　with　enthusiasm；　〃there　is　but　one　man　in
  England　who　would　have　got　me　back　my　child；　and　this　is　he。〃
  When　they　were　alone；　Falcon　told　her　she　had　said　words　that
  gladdened　his　very　heart。　　〃You　admit　I　can　carry　out　one　half　of
  his　wishes？〃　said　he。
  Mrs。　Staines　said　〃Yes；〃　then　colored　high；　then；　to　turn　it　off；
  said；　〃But　I　cannot　allow　you　to　lose　that　large　sum　of　money。　　You
  must　let　me　repay　you。〃
  〃Large　sum　of　money！〃　said　he。　　〃It　is　no　more　to　me　than　sixpence
  to　most　people。　　I　don't　know　what　to　do　with　my　money；　and　I　never
  shall　know；　unless　you　will　make　a　sacrifice　of　your　own　feelings
  to　the　wishes　of　the　dead。　　O　Mrs。　StainesRosa；　do　pray　consider
  that　a　man　of　that　wisdom　sees　the　future；　and　gives　wise　advice。
  Sure　am　I　that；　if　you　could　overcome　your　natural　repugnance　to　a
  second　marriage；　it　would　be　the　best　thing　for　your　little　boyI
  love　him　already　as　if　he　were　my　ownand　in　time　would　bring　you
  peace　and　comfort；　and　some　day；　years　hence；　even　happiness。　　You
  are　my　only　love；　yet　I　should　never　have　come　to　you　again　if　HE
  had　not　sent　me。　　Do　consider　how　strange　it　all　is；　and　what　it
  points　to；　and　don't　let　me　have　the　misery　of　losing　you　again；
  when　you　can　do　no　better　now；　alas！　than　reward　my　fidelity。〃
  She　was　much　moved　at　this　artful　appeal；　and　said；　〃If　I　was　sure
  I　was　obeying　his　will。　　But　how　can　I　feel　that；　when　we　both
  promised　never　to　wed　again？〃
  〃A　man's　dying　words　are　more　sacred　than　any　other。　　You　have　his
  letter。〃
  〃Yes；　but　he　does　not　say　'marry　again。'〃
  〃That　is　what　he　meant；　though。〃
  〃How　can　you　say　that？　　How　can　you　know？〃
  〃Because　I　put　the　words　he　said　to　me　together　with　that　short
  line　to　you。　　Mind；　I　don't　say　that　he　did　not　exaggerate　my　poor
  merits；　on　the　contrary；　I　think　he　did。　　But　I　declare　to　you　that
  he　did　hope　I　should　take　care　of　you　and　your　child。　　Right　or
  wrong；　it　was　his　wish；　so　pray　do　not　deceive　yourself　on　that
  point。〃
  This　made　more　impression　on　her　than　anything　else　he　could　say；
  and　she　said；　〃I　promise　you　one　thing；　I　will　never　marry　any　man
  but　you。〃
  Instead　of　pressing　her　further；　as　an　inferior　artist　would；　he
  broke　into　raptures；　kissed　her　hand　tenderly；　and　was　in　such　high
  spirits；　and　so　voluble　all　day；　that　she　smiled　sweetly　on　him；
  and　thought　to　herself；　〃Poor　soul！　how　happy　I　could　make　him　with
  a　word！〃
  As　he　was　always　watching　her　facea　practice　he　carried　further
  than　any　person　livinghe　divined　that　sentiment；　and　wrought　upon
  it　so；　that　at　last　he　tormented　her　into　saying　she　would　marry
  him　SOME　DAY。
  When　he　had　brought　her　to　that；　he　raged　inwardly　to　think　he　had
  not　two　years　to　work　in；　for　it　was　evident　she　would　marry　him　in
  time。　　But　no；　it　had　taken　him　more　than　four　months；　close　siege；
  to　bring　her　to　that。　　No　word　from　Phoebe。　　An　ominous　dread　hung
  over　his　own　soul。　　His　wife　would　be　upon　him；　or；　worse　still；
  her　brother　Dick；　who　he　knew　would　beat　him　to　a　mummy　on　the
  spot；　or；　worst　of　all；　the　husband　of　Rosa　Staines；　who　would　kill
  him；　or　fling　him　into　a　prison。　　He　MUST　make　a　push。
  In　this　emergency　he　used　his　ally；　Mr。　Lusignan；　he　told　him　Mrs。
  Staines　had　promised　to　marry　him；　but　at　some　distant　date。　　This
  would　not　do；　he　must　look　after　his　enormous　interests　in　the
  colony；　and　he　was　so　much　in　love　he　could　not　leave　her。
  The　old　gentleman　was　desperately　fond　of　Falcon；　and　bent　on　the
  match；　and　he　actually　consented　to　give　his　daughter　what　Falcon
  called　a　little　push。
  The　little　push　was　a　very　great　one；　I　think。
  It　consisted　in　directing　the　clergyman　to　call　in　church　the　banns
  of　marriage　between　Reginald　Falcon　and　Rosa　Staines。
  They　were　both　in　church　together　when　this　was　done。　　Rosa　all　but
  screamed；　and　then　turned　red　as　fire　and　white　as　a　ghost；　by
  turns。　　She　never　stood　up　again　all　th