t move, for fear the perlicemen
should think I did it--the perlice is such wunners, you know; and last
of all, I hears the perliceman begin hunting about, and I got scared
again, and tried to hide; and jus' as I picks up that there white skull,
and was trying whether I couldn't get lower, he opens the lid, and bangs
it down."

"Should you know the men again?" asked Mark eagerly.

"Dunno, sir. You see it was all foggy like, and they was wropped up;
but I should know 'em if I heerd 'em speak."

Mark uttered an ejaculation full of disappointment, and signed to the
boy to go on.

"Well, sir, that's all; only I waited till no one was there; and then I
lifted the lid and crep out of the box; and it was very horrid, for
there was the dead chap in the nex' room, and I kep' thinking he'd come
after me, or them others would; and I was that scared, I crawled along
the passage, and down-stairs, and then sat and shivered, list'ning to
you folks talking, and something in my head going buzz."

"Why did you not come to us?" said Rich kindly.

"I did want to, Miss, but I dursn't. I was 'fraid 'bout what you'd say;
and there was the perliceman too, and I'd no business to be there. I
d'know, only I was very frightened, and didn't hardly know what I did.
I never see anybody dead afore."

"Well, what did you do then?"

"Waited a bit, Miss, and then I got out in the area, nipped over the
rails, and went home and told mother."

"But one minute," cried Mark, pressing his hand to his breast; "did
you--did you hear anything said about--about diamonds?"

"Yes," cried the boy. "I heared one on 'em say, `Be cool, and the
diamonds are ours.'"

Mark uttered a groan. His last hope was crushed; and the boy went on:

"Mother said she know'd no good ud come of my being at a doctor's, and
that it all meant body-snatching and 'section, and that I shouldn't get
into trouble for no one. She said if I stopped I should be took up by
the perlice; and I was scared enough, and did as she said, and she took
me with her down in the country."

"In the country?" cried Hendon. "Where did you go?"

"I d'know," said the boy. "Everywhere's, I think. Tramping about, and
sleeping in workusses; and it's been very cold and mis'able, and I'm
very fond o' the old woman; only somehow--"

"Well, Bob, why do you stop?" said Hendon.

"Dunno, sir," said the boy, looking very hard at Rich's white hand. "I
wouldn't ha' done it, on'y she was took bad, and