“‘Toko! he is what you say new mans almost; he has not been here ’bove year and half. He is sailor or something; he look like gentleman, and knows how to talk, and Donnymore he make him decoy. Oh, leave Donnymore alone. I have met him before to-day. Yaes, I know Donnymore; he ver goot fellow, but he go leetle too far, just leetle bit too far.’
“And as the little Frenchman recalled his grievances, he pulled away somewhat vigorously at his pipe, and looked at the sanded floor as if the reminiscence of the gold-laden stocking was painful to talk about.
“After a pause of a minute, he said, ‘Oh, yaes! I know Donnymore!’ and then he chuckled as if he contemplated revenge.
“‘Where could you find Donnymore and his associates?’ I asked.
“‘I say,’ asked the astute little Frenchman, ‘is there reward offered?’
“‘No,’ I replied; ‘but Mr. Halliday, the gentleman I was speaking of, who is in custody, is well off, and will, I have no doubt, make a couple of days’ work worth our while.’
“‘Bien! that is goot. I like to be on ze square, you know. You vash humbug, I vash humbug, we all vash humbug. Tiens! you shall hear. Donnymore, Toko, Fon Beest all stay now at the “Crown,” King-street, Seven Dials. I have my eye on all of them toujours. I am father—they are my children.’
“‘Let us go, then, and reconnoitre; I want to see if this man Toko resembles Mr. Halliday in any way; if so, the mystery is cleared up at once.’
“‘Of coarse it is. Well, we will go. I can spot them. I shall not touch Donnymore, I think, for Donnymore he ver goot fellow; but he go leetle too far—just leetle bit too far. Donnymore and me were pals once, confrères. You shall have Toko and Fon Beest, but Donnymore he shall shake loose leg a little longer. Vat you say to that, sare?’
“‘I have no objection,’ I replied. ‘I only want Toko.’