He looked at the pinched and anxious face of the boy. A sudden thought struck him. He would begin with the boy.
"Hungry?" he said.
"Not 'arf!" said the boy.
"Father and mother?"
"Old man's doin' five years, old woman's dead—Lock Orspital."
"Home?"
"Occasional, as you might sye," said the imp reflectively; "but Hadelphi Harches as hoften as not—blarst 'em!"
"Very well," said the duke. "Now you're going to have as much as you like to eat, good clothes, and a happy life if you come with me. I'll see you through."
"Straight?—no bloomin' reformatory?"
"Come along with me, you little devil," said the duke genially. "Do you think I'm going to let you in? If you do—scoot!"