CHAPTER VII.

FOUND AND LOST.

When he arrived at the ferry house, the boat was coming in, with his venerable accomplices on board.  Upon receiving her cue from the faithful Bill Fish, Mrs. Crull entered her carriage (which had been in readiness for her since Bog started out on his search), and was driven to Mr. Van Quintem’s.  The old gentleman, who was sitting in his study, with his light overcoat and hat on, prepared for any journey, took the spare seat in the carriage, and, in less than twenty-five minutes, by fast driving and the timely cooperation of the ferry boat, they were at the appointed spot.

“Have you found her, you dear Bog?” asked Mrs. Crull, breathless.

Bog answered “Yes,” and that Mrs. Crull should see her in five minutes.  That lady then assisted him into the carriage, and kissed him on the forehead in a motherly way, which would have astonished the sedate family coachman, if he had not been entirely used to Mrs. Crull’s eccentricities.

“My good boy,” said old Van Quintem, in a trembling voice, “are you sure we are not too late—­quite sure?”

“Sure!” said Bog.

“Thank God! thank God!” murmured the old gentleman.  Then he looked with a strange interest upon the honest and intelligent face of the lad.  He was contrasting the history of the poor boy, which he had learned from Mrs. Crull, with that of his abandoned son.

The carriage was stopped, by the order of Bog (who calmly took charge of the whole proceedings), at the corner of the street below the shop; and the party (excepting the driver) walked slowly toward the scene of interest.  Old Van Quintem’s increasing infirmities compelled him to lean for support on the arm of Mrs. Crull, and also with greater and more confiding weight, on that of Bog.

As the party entered the shop, young Van Quintem was sitting with his head turned toward the door by which Miss Minford had vanished, savagely biting his finger nails.  He wheeled in his chair, and confronted the intruders.

“What the ——­ are you doing here?” he cried to his father.

“We are here to save a young girl from ruin, and you from another crime,” said the old gentleman, greatly agitated, and leaning with his whole weight, now, on Bog’s arm.

“The ——­ you are!  And you have brought along an old woman, and a boy that looks like a pickpocket, to help you.”

The phrase “old woman” stirred up Mrs. Crull.  She left the old gentleman’s side, and advanced to within a yard of the profligate.  “Old as I am,” said she, “I’m strong enough to spank such a white-livered, broken-down puppy as you are.  But I’ll leave you to the hands of the law.  It’s a long lane that hasn’t any turning, remember; and you’ll pull up at the gallows at last.  That’s some comfort!”

Mrs. Crull here became conscious that it was highly impolite to lose her temper, and she fell back to the support of her old friend.  Young Van Quintem laughed at her, showing his white teeth unpleasantly.