‘My name is Harry Richmond, and I thank you very much,’ I replied.

I heard her say, as I went out, ‘You can see he’s a gentleman’s son.’  The ragged boy was awaiting me eagerly.  ‘Gemini! you’re a lucky one,’ he cried; ‘here, come along, curly-poll.’  I believe that I meant to share the bun with him, but of course he could not be aware of my beneficent intentions:  so he treated me as he thought I was for treating him, and making one snatch at the bun, ran off cramming it into his mouth.  I stood looking at any hand.  I learnt in that instant what thieving was, and begging, and hunger, for I would have perished rather than have asked for another cake, and as I yearned for it in absolute want of food, the boy’s ungenerous treatment of me came down in a cloud on my reason.  I found myself being led through the crush of people, by an old gentleman, to whom I must have related an extraordinary rigmarole.  He shook his head, saying that I was unintelligible; but the questions he put to me, ’Why had I no hat on in the open street?—­Where did my mother live?—­What was I doing out alone in London?’ were so many incitements to autobiographical composition to an infant mind, and I tumbled out my history afresh each time that he spoke.  He led me into a square, stooping his head to listen all the while; but when I perceived that we had quitted the region of shops I made myself quite intelligible by stopping short and crying:  ‘I am so hungry.’  He nodded and said, ’It ’s no use cross-examining an empty stomach.  You’ll do me the favour to dine with me, my little man.  We’ll talk over your affairs by-and-by.’

My alarm at having left the savoury street of shops was not soothed until I found myself sitting at table with him, and a nice young lady, and an old one who wore a cap, and made loud remarks on my garments and everything I did.  I was introduced to them as the little boy dropped from the sky.  The old gentleman would not allow me to be questioned before I had eaten.  It was a memorable feast.  I had soup, fish, meat, and pastry, and, for the first time in my life, a glass of wine.  How they laughed to see me blink and cough after I had swallowed half the glass like water.  At once my tongue was unloosed.  I seemed to rise right above the roofs of London, beneath which I had been but a wandering atom a few minutes ago.  I talked of my wonderful father, and Great Will, and Pitt, and the Peerage.  I amazed them with my knowledge.  When I finished a long recital of Great Will’s chase of the deer, by saying that I did not care about politics (I meant, in my own mind, that Pitt was dull in comparison), they laughed enormously, as if I had fired them off.  ’Do you know what you are, sir?’ said the old gentleman; he had frowning eyebrows and a merry mouth ‘you’re a comical character.’

I felt interested in him, and asked him what he was.  He informed me that he was a lawyer, and ready to be pantaloon to my clown, if I would engage him.