just like you swells," growled the man. "Nothing like getting
your word in first. Has she returned to me? You know jolly well she
ain't. She won't come back to me till you've done with 'er, I'll be
bound."

Adrien started, as the significance of the accusation dawned on him. He
had thought more than once of the girl, with her dark eyes and silken
hair. What had become of her? What, alas! could have been her fate, if
she had not returned to this man, her guardian?

"What do you mean?" he said now, sternly.

"What I say," retorted Mr. Wilfer. "She ain't returned to me, an' that's
my question to you. Where is she, an' what 'ave you done with her?"

"How should know what has become of her?" answered Leroy, genuinely
startled. "Do you dare to insinuate that I know where she is? I have
neither seen her nor heard of her."

"That's a lie," said the man shortly.

Leroy surveyed him for a moment.

"You are impertinent," he said, in his clear tones. "Stand aside, and
let me pass."

Mr. Wilfer thrust his hands into his pockets, and stood his ground.

"That won't go down with me," he said insolently. "I want to know where
my niece is; and by Heaven, I'll know too!"

Leroy stopped short.

"She was your niece, you say?"

"She was," said the man, "though it's no business of yours; she belonged
to me."

"So I presume, or you would not have ill-treated her," retorted Adrien
dryly. "When did you see her last?"

"Over a month ago--as well you know," returned Wilfer coarsely. "She ran
off the morning you came gallivanting after her."

Adrien could have knocked the man down, but he restrained the longing,
and said instead:

"I thought you told me she'd robbed you, and had run away? That was a
lie, I suppose?"

"'Course it was. Who wouldn't lie to save his gal from such as you fine
gentlemen? I know yer, so it's no use coming this talky-talky surprise
with me. You just tell me where she is."

"I tell you," reiterated Adrien, "I have never seen the child since the
night I took her from the cold. Stand out of my path, or I shall hand
you over to the police."

Mr. Wilfer laughed.

"So that's your answer, is it? Call away, my fine gentleman, call away."

He glanced round the deserted path from the corner of his shifty eyes;
then, with a snarl of a savage beast, he sprang upon Leroy, and strove
to bring him to the ground.

But he was no match for Adrien, who beneath all his listless mannerism
possessed a grasp of ste