Thus requested, Craft gave to the lawyer a detailed account of the disaster at the bridge, of the finding and keeping of Ralph, of his mysterious disappearance, and of the prolonged search for him.

“Day before yesterday,” continued the old man, “I was watching the crowds at the circus,—­I knew the boy was fond of circuses,—­an who should go by me into the tent but this same Ralph.  I made sure he was the identical person, and yesterday I went to Robert Burnham, and got that paper.”

“Indeed!  Where does the boy live? what does he do?”

“Why, it seems that he works at picking slate, in Burnham’s own breaker, and lives with one Bachelor Billy, a simple-minded old fellow, without a family, who took the boy in when he was abandoned by the circus.”

“Good!” exclaimed the lawyer; “good! we shall have a capital case.  But wait; does Mrs. Burnham know of your interview with her husband, or about this paper?”

“I don’t know.  I left the man at his office, alone.”

“At what hour?”

“Well, about half-past four, as nearly as I can judge.”

“Then it’s not at all probable that she knows.  He went from his office directly to the breaker, and died before she could see him.”

“Well, how shall we begin?” said Craft, impatiently.  “What’s the first thing to be done?” Visions of golden thousands were already floating before his greedy eyes.

“We shall not begin at all, just yet,” said Sharpman.  “We’ll wait till the horror and excitement, consequent upon this disaster, have passed away.  It wouldn’t do to proceed now; besides, all action should be postponed, at any rate, until an inventory of the estate shall have been filed.”

A look of disappointment came into old Simon’s face.  The lawyer noticed it.  “You mustn’t be in too much of a hurry,” he said.  “All good things come slowly.  Now, I’ll tell you what I propose to do.  After this excitement has passed over, and the lady’s mind has become somewhat settled, I will go to her myself, and say to her frankly that you believe her son to be still alive.  Of course, she’ll not believe me.  Indeed, I shall be very careful to put the matter in such a shape that she will not believe me.  I will say to her, however, that you have employed me to prosecute your claim for services to the child, and that it will be necessary to have a guardian appointed against whom such action may be taken.  I will suggest to her that if she will acknowledge the boy to be her son, she will be the proper person to act as his guardian.  Of course, she will refuse to do either.  The rest is easy.  We will go into court with a petition setting forth the facts in the case, stating that the boy’s mother has refused to act as his guardian, and asking for your appointment as such.  Do you see?”

“Oh, yes! that’s good; that’s very good, indeed.”

“But, let me see, though; you’ll have to give bonds.  There’s the trouble.  Got any money, or any rich friends?”