“Well, Mrs. Staines, if I was writing you a novel, I suppose I should tell you the rogues recoiled; but the truth is they only laughed, and were quite pleased.  ‘Swell’s in earnest,’ said one, ’Jem, show the kid.’  Jem whistled, and in came a great tall black gypsy woman, with the darling.  My heart was in my mouth, but I would not let them see it.  I said, ‘It is all right.  Take half the notes here, and half at the door.’  They agreed, and then I did it quick, walked to the door, took the child, gave them the odd notes, and made off as fast as I could, hired a nurse at the hospital—­and the rest you know.”

“Papa,” said Rosa, with enthusiasm, “there is but one man in England who would have got me back my child, and this is he.”

When they were alone, Falcon told her she had said words that gladdened his very heart.  “You admit I can carry out one half of his wishes?” said he.

Mrs. Staines said “Yes,” then colored high; then, to turn it off, said, “But I cannot allow you to lose that large sum of money.  You must let me repay you.”

“Large sum of money!” said he.  “It is no more to me than sixpence to most people.  I don’t know what to do with my money; and I never shall know, unless you will make a sacrifice of your own feelings to the wishes of the dead.  O Mrs. Staines—­Rosa, do pray consider that a man of that wisdom sees the future, and gives wise advice.  Sure am I that, if you could overcome your natural repugnance to a second marriage, it would be the best thing for your little boy—­I love him already as if he were my own—­and in time would bring you peace and comfort, and some day, years hence, even happiness.  You are my only love; yet I should never have come to you again if he had not sent me.  Do consider how strange it all is, and what it points to, and don’t let me have the misery of losing you again, when you can do no better now, alas! than reward my fidelity.”

She was much moved at this artful appeal, and said, “If I was sure I was obeying his will.  But how can I feel that, when we both promised never to wed again?”

“A man’s dying words are more sacred than any other.  You have his letter.”

“Yes, but he does not say ‘marry again.’”

“That is what he meant, though.”

“How can you say that?  How can you know?”

“Because I put the words he said to me together with that short line to you.  Mind, I don’t say that he did not exaggerate my poor merits; on the contrary, I think he did.  But I declare to you that he did hope I should take care of you and your child.  Right or wrong, it was his wish, so pray do not deceive yourself on that point.”

This made more impression on her than anything else he could say, and she said, “I promise you one thing, I will never marry any man but you.”

Instead of pressing her further, as an inferior artist would, he broke into raptures, kissed her hand tenderly, and was in such high spirits, and so voluble all day, that she smiled sweetly on him, and thought to herself, “Poor soul! how happy I could make him with a word!”