“You can imagine when I heard this name if I did not glue my ears to the window.
“ ‘Then if your nephew is better,’ continued your father, ‘all you’ve done is useless.’
“ ‘For the moment, perhaps,’ replied the other, ‘but I don’t say that Arthur is going to live; it would be a miracle if he did, and I am not afraid of miracles. The day he dies the only heir to that estate will be myself.’
“ ‘Don’t worry; I’ll see to that,’ said Driscoll.
“ ‘Yes, I count on you,’ replied Mr. Milligan.”
My first thought was to question my father, but it was not wise to let them know that they had been overheard. As Mr. Milligan had business with my father he would probably come to the house again, and the next time, Mattia, whom he did not know, could follow him.
A few days later Mattia met a friend of his, Bob, the Englishman, whom he had known at the Gassot Circus. I could see by the way he greeted Mattia that he was very fond of him. He at once took a liking to Capi and myself. From that day we had a strong friend, who, by his experience and advice, was of great help to us in time of trouble.
Chapter XXIX
In Prison
Spring came slowly, but at last the day arrived for the family to leave London. The caravans had been repainted and were loaded with merchandise. There were materials, hats, shawls, handkerchiefs, sweaters, underwear, ear-rings, razors, soap, powders, cream, everything that one could imagine.