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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