“I will be careful, father.  I cannot say how I shall set about the matter, yet.  That must depend upon circumstances; but, as you say, above all things I must be careful of the fellow’s life.  When is there a ship sailing, father?”

“The day after tomorrow, Charlie.  You will want that time for getting clothes, suitable to a young gentleman of moderate condition, up from the country on a visit to London.  You must make up your mind that it will be a long search before you light on the fellow, for we have no clue as to the tavern he frequents.  As a roistering young squire, wanting to see London life, you could go into taverns frequented by doubtful characters, for it is probably in such a place that you will find him.

“However, all this I must leave to you.  You showed yourself, in that Polish business, well able to help yourself out of a scrape, and if you could do that among people of whose tongues you were ignorant, you ought to be able to manage on English soil.”

“At any rate, I will do my best, father, of that you may be sure.  I have the advantage of knowing the fellow, and am pretty certain that he will not know me.”

“Not he, Charlie,” his father said confidently.  “Even in the last two years, since you were here with Jervoise and the others, you have changed so much that I, myself, might have passed you in the street without knowing you.

“Now, you had better go off and see about your things.  There is no time to be lost.  I have drawn out a hundred guineas of my money, which will, I should say, serve you while you are away; but don’t stint it, lad.  Let me know if it runs short, and I will send you more.”

“I have money, too, father.  I have four months’ pay due, besides money I have in hand, for there was but little need for us to put our hands in our pockets.”

Ten days later, Charlie arrived in the Port of London, and took up his abode at the Bull’s Head, where he found the quarters comfortable, indeed, after the rough work of campaigning.  The next morning he took a waiter into his confidence.

“I have come to London to see a little life,” he said, “and I want to be put into the way of doing it.  I don’t want to go to places where young gallants assemble.  My purse is not deep enough to stand such society.  I should like to go to places where I shall meet hearty young fellows, and could have a throw of the dice, or see a main fought by good cocks, or even sally out and have a little fun with the watch.  My purse is fairly lined, and I want some amusement—­something to look back upon when I go home again.  What is the best way to set about it?”

“Well, sir, if that is your humour, I have a brother who is one of the mayor’s tipstaffs.  He knows the city well, ay, and Westminster, too, and the purlieus of Saint James’s, and whether you want to meet young gallants or roistering blades, or to have a look in at places where you can hire a man to cut another’s throat for a few crowns, he can show you them.  He will be on duty now, but I will send him a message to come round this evening, and I warrant me he will be here.  He has showed young squires from the country over the town before this, and will guess what is on hand when he gets my message.”