Stand by Lauriston, mister!--we'll
pull him through."
"You seem very well disposed towards him," remarked Purdie. "He's
evidently taken your fancy."
"And my cousin Zillah's," answered Melky, with a confidential grin.
"Zillah--loveliest girl in all Paddington, mister--she's clear gone on the
young fellow! And--a word in your ear, mister!--Zillah's been educated
like a lady, and now that the old man's gone, Zillah'll have--ah! a
fortune that 'ud make a nigger turn white! And no error about it! See it
through, mister!"
"I'll see it through," said Purdie. "Now, then--these police. Look here--
is there a good hotel in this neighbourhood?--I've all my traps in that
taxi-cab downstairs--I drove straight here from the station, because I
wanted to see Andie Lauriston at once."
"Money's no object to you, I reckon, mister?" asked Melky, with a shrewd
glance at the young Scotsman's evident signs of prosperity.
"Not in reason," answered Purdie.
"Then there's the Great Western Hotel, at the end o' Praed Street," said
Melky. "That'll suit a young gentleman like you, mister, down to the
ground. And you'll be right on the spot!"
"Come with me, then," said Purdie.
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