“I will do it, ma’am, if the little boy should be brought here,” said the man.
And then, as time was precious, Drusilla and Anna arose and re-entered their cab.
“Where now, Drusilla?” inquired Anna, as they seated themselves.
Instead of answering her cousin immediately, Drusilla beckoned the cabman to approach, and said:
“Drive to the nearest Telegraph Office, and drive fast.”
The man touched his hat, shut the door, mounted his box and started his horses.
Then Drusilla turned to her cousin and explained:
“My dear Alick may, or may not have employed those men to carry off little Lenny. If he has done so, he could not have expected them to do his errand to-day, else certainly he would not have left town with the chance of leaving the child in such hands. In that view of the case I left my card with the penciled lines for the waiter to send to him, to let him know that Lenny is in the hands of his agents, supposing that they are his, and in any case to let him know the child is missing.”
“Oh, Drusilla! how clearly you speak, and yet how wretchedly you look! Heaven help you, poor, young mother!” said Mrs. Hammond, as the tears rushed to her eyes.
“Oh, Anna! don’t, don’t, dear! don’t pity me! don’t say anything to weaken me! I have need of all my strength!” cried Drusilla, through her white and quivering lips.