ard, and went straight for Mr. Coleman's poor little
house in Hoxton. Mr. Evans was too tired and too much occupied with his
thoughts to take the least notice of the streets they passed through,
and had no suspicion, therefore, of the change of direction.

By this time the wind had increased almost to a hurricane, and as they
had often to head it, it was no joke for either of the Diamonds. The
distance, however, was not great. Before they reached the street where
Mr. Coleman lived it blew so tremendously, that when Miss Coleman, who
was going out a little way, opened the door, it dashed against the wall
with such a bang, that she was afraid to venture, and went in again.
In five minutes after, Diamond drew up at the door. As soon as he had
entered the street, however, the wind blew right behind them, and when
he pulled up, old Diamond had so much ado to stop the cab against it,
that the breeching broke. Young Diamond jumped off his box, knocked
loudly at the door, then turned to the cab and said--before Mr. Evans
had quite begun to think something must be amiss:

"Please, sir, my harness has given away. Would you mind stepping in here
for a few minutes? They're friends of mine. I'll take you where you like
after I've got it mended. I shan't be many minutes, but you can't stand
in this wind."

Half stupid with fatigue and want of food, Mr. Evans yielded to the
boy's suggestion, and walked in at the door which the maid held with
difficulty against the wind. She took Mr. Evans for a visitor, as indeed
he was, and showed him into the room on the ground-floor. Diamond, who
had followed into the hall, whispered to her as she closed the door--

"Tell Miss Coleman. It's Miss Coleman he wants to see."

"I don't know" said the maid. "He don't look much like a gentleman."

"He is, though; and I know him, and so does Miss Coleman."

The maid could not but remember Diamond, having seen him when he and his
father brought the ladies home. So she believed him, and went to do what
he told her.

What passed in the little parlour when Miss Coleman came down does not
belong to my story, which is all about Diamond. If he had known that
Miss Coleman thought Mr. Evans was dead, perhaps he would have managed
differently. There was a cry and a running to and fro in the house, and
then all was quiet again.

Almost as soon as Mr. Evans went in, the wind began to cease, and was
now still. Diamond found that by making the breeching just a