"Have you heard from Mr. Richard lately, sir?"
"Never mind Richard, now. Come with me, Noddy. If you attempt to run away again, I shall be obliged to hand you over to a policeman."
That looked much more like it, in Noddy's opinion, and he had no doubt of Mr. Grant's entire sincerity in the last remark.
"I will follow you, sir," replied Noddy, though he did not intend to continue on this route much farther.
"You understand that I am your friend, Noddy, and that no harm shall come to you."
"Yes, sir; I understand that."
"Come here now, and walk by my side. I don't want to call a policeman to take charge of you."
Noddy did not want him to do so either, and did not intend that he should. He placed himself by the side of his powerful persecutor, as he still regarded him, and they walked together towards the hotel. The young refugee was nervous and uneasy, and watched with the utmost diligence for an opportunity to slip away. As they were crossing a street, a hack, approaching rapidly, caused Mr. Grant to quicken his pace in order to avoid being run over. Noddy, burdened with the weight of the carpet-bag, did not keep up with him, and he was obliged to fall back to escape the carriage.
"Here, boy, you take this bag, and follow the owner to the hotel, and he will give you something," said Noddy to a ragged boy at the corner of the street.
Without waiting for an answer, he darted down the cross street, and made his best time in the rush for liberty.