The door of the room opened, and Hardman, the officer, made his appearance.
"Your humble servant, Sir Richard. I hope I have not kept you waiting long? I was only in the neighbourhood."
"No, Hardman, thank you, it's all right. I have not been here above a quarter of an hour."
"I am glad of that, sir. How do you do, Mr. Ben?"
"Pretty well," said Ben, "only a little hungry and thirsty, that's all; but don't trouble yourself about that, Mr. Hardman; I always do get hungry when I look at Julia."
"I hope, Mr. Ben, that don't mean that you will dine off her some day when you are married?"
"Oh, lor, no. Bless her heart, no. She loves me more and more, Mr. Hardman."
"I am glad to hear it, Ben—very glad to hear it. But I presume, Sir Richard, that you have some orders for me?"
"Why, yes, Hardman. There's that rascal Todd, you know, still continues to elude us. What I want you to do is, to take charge entirely on the river, and to make what arrangements you like at the various quays and landing-places, and with all the watermen, so that he shall not have a chance of escaping in that way."
"Certainly, sir; I will set about it directly."