this time the "Cod with the Hook in his Gills" was as much at the
mercy of Mr. Mordacks as if he had landed and were crimping him. Widow
Precious was a very tough lady to get over, and she liked to think
the worst she could of everybody--which proves in the end the most
charitable course, because of the good-will produced by explanation--and
for some time she had stood in the Flamburian attitude of doubt toward
the factor. But even a Flamburian may at last be pierced; and then
(as with other pachydermatous animals) the hole, once made, is almost
certain to grow larger. So by dint of good offices here and there, kind
interest, and great industry among a very simple and grateful race,
he became the St. Oswald of that ancient shrine (as already has been
hinted), and might do as he liked, even on the Sabbath-day. And as one
of the first things he always liked to do was to enter into everybody's
business, he got into an intricacy of little knowledge too manifold even
for his many-fibred brain. But some of this ran into and strengthened
his main clew, leading into the story he was laboring to explore,
and laying before him, as bright as a diamond, even the mystery of
ear-rings.

"My highly valued hostess and admirable cook," he said to Widow
Precious, after making noble dinner, which his long snowy ride and work
at Bridlington had earned, "in your knowledge of the annals of this
interesting town, happen you to be able to recall the name of a certain
man, John Cadman?"

"Ah, that ah deah," Widow Tapsy answered, with a heavy sigh, which
rattled all the dishes on the waiter; "and sma' gude o' un, sma' gude,
whativer. Geroot wi' un!"

The landlady shut her firm lips with a smack, which Mordacks well knew
by this time though seldom foreclosed by it now, as he had been before
he became a Danish citizen. He was sure that she had some good reason
for her silence; and the next day he found that the girl who had left
her home, through Cadman's villainy, was akin by her mother's side to
Mistress Precious. But he had another matter to discuss with her now,
which caused him some misgivings, yet had better be faced manfully. In
the safe philosophical distance of York from this strong landlady he had
(for good reasons of his own) appointed the place of meeting with
Sir Duncan Yordas at the rival hostelry, the inn of Thornwick. Widow
Precious had a mind of uncommonly large type, so lofty and pure of all
petty emotions, that if any one sp