“A reward!” echoed Jack. “For what?”
“I had the paper with me. 'Sdeath! what can I have done with it? Oh! here it is,” cried Hogarth, picking it from the ground. “I must have dropped it when I took out my note-book. There's the paragraph. 'Mrs. Sheppard left Mr. Wood's house at Dollis Hill on Tuesday'—that's two days ago,—'hasn't been heard of since.'”
“Let me see,” cried Jack, snatching the paper, and eagerly perusing the advertisement. “Ah!” he exclaimed, in a tone of anguish. “She has fallen into the villain's hands.”
“What villain?” cried Hogarth.
“Jonathan Wild, I'll be sworn,” said Gay.
“Right!—right!” cried Jack, striking his fettered hands against his breast. “She is in his power, and I am here, chained hand and foot, unable to assist her.”
“I could make a fine sketch of him now,” whispered Hogarth to Gay.
“I told you how it was, Sir James,” said Austin, addressing the knight, who was preparing for his departure, “he attributes every misfortune that befals him to Mr. Wild.”
“And with some justice,” replied Thornhill, drily.
“Allow me to assist you, Sir James,” said Hogarth.