“Yessir,” gasped the boy in one breath, and looked at the tall gentleman from under light eye-lashes out of light eyes.
“You have another name?”
“Nosir,” said the urchin again in a breath and lying glibly, “never was called anything but Alanzer.”
Fuller nodded, seeing that the lad was loyal to Miss Grison, and did not try to wean him from his allegiance. All the same he wished to ask him questions about the dead man, but did not think the present moment a judicious one to do so. “Some day you must ask your mistress to let you come and see me at my office,” he remarked carelessly, and passed on.
In a moment Jotty was tugging his coat-tail. “What jer want ter arsk?”
“I shall tell you when the time comes. Do you know Mr. Latimer?”
Jotty nodded with bright inquisitive eyes. “Him with the big coat like the bear them Italyains chivy about?”
“Yes. You see that I know something about you, Alonzo. But you are quite right to say what you have said. I don’t want you to call and see me unless Miss Grison permits you to.”
“Yer a lawr gent?” inquired Jotty, pondering.
“In Chancery Lane.” Fuller gave his number. “If you do happen to be passing, Mr. Alonzo, just look in and earn a few shillings.”