“That depends a good deal on what the secret is, and what I have got to do with it,” replied Phil. “But why do you ask?”
“Because I’ve been keeping a secret a long time—much against my will—an’ I can stand it no longer. If I don’t let it out, it’ll bu’st me—besides, I’ve got leave to tell it.”
“Out with it, then, Pax; for it’s of no use trying to keep down things that don’t agree with you.”
“Well, then,” said Pax. “I know where George Aspel is!”
Phil, who had somewhat unwillingly withdrawn his mind from Euclid, turned instantly with an eager look towards his little friend.
“Ah, I thought that would rouse you,” said the latter, with a look of unwonted earnestness on his face. “You must know, Phil, that a long while ago—just about the time of the burglary at Miss Stivergill’s cottage—I made the amazin’ discovery that little Tottie Bones is Mariar—alias Merry,—the little baby-cousin I was nuss to in the country long ago, whom I’ve often spoke to you about, and from whom I was torn when she had reached the tender age of two or thereby. It follows, of course, that Tottie’s father—old Bones—is my uncle, alias Blackadder, alias the Brute, of whom I have also made mention, and who, it seems, came to London to try his fortune in knavery after havin’ failed in the country. I saw him once, I believe, at old Blurt’s bird-shop, but did not recognise ’im at the time, owin’ to his hat bein’ pulled well over his eyes, though I rather think he must have recognised me. The second time I saw him was when Tottie came to me for help and set me on his tracks, when he was goin’ to commit the burglary on Rosebud Cottage. I’ve told you all about that, but did not tell you that the burglar was Tottie’s father, as Tottie had made me promise not to mention it to any one. I knew the rascal at once on seeing him in the railway carriage, and could hardly help explodin’ in his face at the fun of the affair. Of course he didn’t know me on account of my bein’ as black in the face as the King of Dahomey.—Well,” continued Pax, warming with his subject, “it also follows, as a matter of course, that Mrs Bones is my blessed old aunt Georgie—now changed into Molly, on account, no doubt, of the Brute’s desire to avoid the attentions of the police. Now, as I’ve a great regard for aunt Georgie, and have lost a good deal of my hatred of the Brute, and find myself fonder than ever of Tottie—I beg her pardon, of Merry—I’ve been rather intimate—indeed, I may say, pretty thick—with the Boneses ever since; and as I am no longer a burden to the Brute—can even help ’im a little—he don’t abominate me as much as he used to. They’re wery poor—awful poor—are the Boneses. The Brute still keeps up a fiction of a market-garden and a dairy—the latter bein’ supplied by a cow and a pump—but it don’t pay, and the business in the city, whatever it may be, seems equally unprofitable, for their town house is not a desirable residence.”
“This is all very interesting and strange, Pax, but what has it to do with George Aspel?” asked Phil. “You know I’m very anxious about him, and have long been hunting after him. Indeed, I wonder that you did not tell me about him before.”
“How could I,” said Pax, “when Tot—I mean Merry—no, I’ll stick to Tottie it comes more natural than the old name—told me not for worlds to mention it. Only now, after pressin’ her and aunt Georgie wery hard, have I bin allowed to let it out, for poor Aspel himself don’t want his whereabouts to be known.”
“Surely!” exclaimed Phil, with a troubled, anxious air, “he has not become a criminal.”
“No. Auntie assures me he has not, but he is sunk very low, drinks hard to drown his sorrow, and is ashamed to be seen. No wonder. You’d scarce know ’im, Phil, workin’ like a coal-heaver, in a suit of dirty fustian, about the wharves—tryin’ to keep out of sight. I’ve come across ’im once or twice, but pretended not to recognise ’im. Now, Phil,” added little Pax, with deep earnestness in his face, as he laid his hand impressively on his friend’s arm, “we must save these two men somehow—you and I.”