Dowker cast a sharp glance at the ragged little figure walking beside him.
"Where have you been getting money?" he asked.
"My h'eye, it's a rigler game," said Flip, rubbing his grimy hands together, as they turned into a ham and beef shop, "I'll tell yer all--'am I'll 'ave, an' bread."
Being supplied with these luxuries at the expense of Dowker, Flip stuffed his mouth with a liberal portion and then began to talk.
"Larst Monday," he began.
"Ha," said Dowker, suddenly recollecting the date of the murder, "yesterday?"
"No, the Monday afore," said Flip, "it were at nite, h'awful foggy, my h'eye, a rigler corker it were. I was as 'ungry as a bloomin' tyke an' couldn't find you nohow, so h'up I goes to Soho to see h'old Jem Mux, you know's 'im, guv'nor, the cove as keeps the 'Pink 'Un.'"
"Yes, the sporting pub," replied Dowker.
"Same game," said Flip, "'e gives me sumat to eat when I arsks it, so I goes h'up to cadge some wictuals, I gits cold meat, my h'eye, prime, an' bread an' beer, so when I 'ad copped the grub, I was a-gittin' away h'out of the bar when a swell cove comes in--lor' what a swell--fur coat an' a shiny 'at. Ses 'e to the gal, ses 'e, 'Is that 'ere sparrin' comin' ort this evenin'?' 'Yes, says she, 'in the drorin'-room.' 'Right you h'are,' ses 'e, 'I want to see it afore I leave Hengland. I was a-goin' down to my yotsh,' ses 'e, but I'll put it orf till to-morrow as I wants to see this set to,' then 'e twigs me an' ses 'e, 'Are you cold?' 'Yes,' ses I. ''Ungry?' 'Not much,' ses I. ''Ere's some tin for you, you pore little devil,' an' I'm blessed if 'e didn't tip me a sov, so I've bin livin' like a dook on it since I sawr you--nice game, ain't it, guv'nor?"
During this recital Dowker had not paid much attention till Flip spoke of the yacht, then he suddenly pricked up his ears, for it dawned on him that this unknown benefactor of Flip's might possibly be Lord Calliston.