Scarcely had those two individuals, now both made happy, taken their departure, when Whittingham informed his master that a person with a dark complexion, and who gave the name of Morcar, requested to speak to him.
Richard ordered the gipsy to be instantly admitted to his presence.
Morcar was accordingly shown into the parlour.
The moment he found himself alone with Markham, he said in a low and somewhat solemn tone, "We have traced him!"
"I expected as much, the moment your name was announced," said Richard. "Where is he?"
"He has taken refuge in a barge on the river," answered Morcar. "That is all I have been able to learn; but I am confident he is there."
"And do you know where the barge is moored?" asked Richard.
"Close by Rotherhithe. But there are several other barges off the same wharf; and I cannot single out which he is in. I, however, know that he is concealed in one of them."
"It is important to discover which," said Markham. "Were we to make our appearance in that vicinity with a body of police, he might escape us altogether."
"And therefore it will be better to take him by means of stratagem," observed Morcar.