"You know something?"

"P'r'aps so. You say you came here--late?"

"Yes, very late."

"That night the doctor was struck down?"

"Yes; but why do you ask?"

"Because, you scoundrel, we've got the clue at last. You were the man!"

So sudden was the charge that Mark literally staggered back, and, weak from his illness, he gasped, and looked to a superficial observer as much like a guilty man as ever recoiled from a sudden denunciation. But as a wave of the advancing tide merely retires to gain fresh force, Mark Heath recovered himself.

"You scoundrel!" he cried; and he would have sprung at Poynter's throat, but for the restraining arm of Janet and Hendon.

"Scoundrel yourself!" cried Poynter savagely. "Look at his face!

Here--the police!"

He strode towards the door, upon which at that moment there was a loud tapping; and before he could reach it, Bob stood in the opening, very rough of head, very ragged, and looking as if he had not been washed since he was missed.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

BOB IS EXPLANATORY.

"Here, boy," cried Poynter, "quick! Fetch a policeman. Half-a-crown."

He thrust his hand into his pocket, but at that moment even that outrageously large sum had not the slightest effect upon the boy, who looked quickly round from one to the other till his eyes lit upon Mark, at whom he rushed with the notion of a well-trained dog, seizing him by the arm and breast of his coat, and clinging tightly.

"I've got him," he said shrilly. "Fetch the perlice. I've got him, Miss Rich; I see him come that night."

Poynter raised his fist, and struck it into his open hand.

"I knew it!" he cried. "I knew I was right! Now, Mr Mark Heath, what have you got to say?"

"Hendon, lad, lay hold of this boy. He's mad."

"No, I ain't," cried Bob. "Had 'nuff to make me, though."

"Let go, you dog!" roared Mark.

"All right, I'm a-going to," said the boy, shrinking away as Rich came to him.

"Bob," she cried, "what is this you're saying?"

"Well, I d'know, Miss," he said, scratching his head; "and I don't think now it weer him. But I'll sweer he come and told the doctor as the perlice or some one was after him."

"Yes, boy, yes; I did come, but you were not there."

"Worn't I? Yes, I was," said the boy, grinning. "I see you come, and you'd got one o' them, long-tail ulcers and a broad-brimmed hat; and the doctor--I say, Miss, is he better?"

"Yes, yes, Bob; but pray go on."

"I am glad the guvner's better. It scared me. I thought he was a dead 'un."

The boy looked round, and gave everybody a confidential nod, including "'Lisbeth," who was standing at the door, crying, and smiling with satisfaction by turns.

"But you say you saw me come!" cried Mark, while Poynter stood looking on in triumph.

"See you come? Course I did. I know'd you d'reckly, but I don't think it was you as did it."

"No, boy, it was not I. But where were you?"

"Wheer was I? Ah! you wouldn't know, I was afraid o' the doctor dropping onto me for being there, and I skipped into the bone box."

"What!" cried Hendon.

"I did, sir, 'strue as goodness. There's lot's o' room, and I could just lift up the lid and peep, and that's how I see him come."

"You young rascal?" muttered Hendon; while the doctor sat quietly smiling, as if it were something got up for his special amusement.

"Then the doctor he took you into his room, and you had some bran'-water hot. I smelt it. And when he come and got down one o' the bottles, and misked you up a dollop o' physic; and I heared you both a-buzzing away, and talking about wheer you'd been. The doctor kep' coaxing of you, like, to go to sleep, and somehow that sent me off."

"What! in that box with those--"

"Oh, yes, I don't mind them. I often nips in there when any one's coming."

"Did you hear anything else, Bob?" said Rich excitedly, as she held the boy's hand.

"Not till some one else come, and knocked two or three times; and I was going to answer the door, when the doctor come and turned down the gas, and then I lay still, and heard him putting the physic bottles away afore he'd let 'em in; didn't you, sir?"

The doctor smiled, and shook his head.

"Why, I heared you!" said the boy reproachfully; "and then you turns up the gas again, and I lifts the lid a bit, and sees it was two men and an accident."

"An accident?"

"Yes, Miss, a chap as they said had been run over; and they brings him in, and puts him on the cushion a-top o' the box I was in; and I lay still and listens, for I says as it was a good chance to hear a operation if I couldn't see one."

"Go on, boy; go on."

"All right, sir. Well, as I listens--oh, it was good! The chap groans and hollers about his chest, and then he makes no end of fuss, and the doctor says he'll soon be all right; and then--_whoosh!--croosh_! I hears as if some one had been hit, and a big fall--_quelch_! Then I lay very still, for I was scared. I heard some one get off the box, and a lot o' whispering and I dursn't move, for fear they should know I was there. But when I did peep, and lifted the lid softly, there was the doctor lying close to the box, on his face, and I thought he was dead.

"That give me a turn, Miss," continued the boy, after moistening his lips, for his voice had become husky, "and I don't think I knowed what happened till I heerd a skeary kind o' noise, and a loud sort o' whop in the 'sulting-room; and then the door was opened, and I see the light shining on you a-lying on the sofa--you, sir--sleep or shamming, and a man in there too, a-lying down, and--and--I--I can't help it, Miss--I ain't had much to eat lately, and I--"

Poor Bob let himself sink in a heap upon the floor, covered his face with his hands, and burst into a fit of sobbing.