the river at Richmond and see what we shall see."

The half-hour, however, developed into a full one; for it was after two
o'clock when the talk was finished and a bed improvised for the boy; but
Cleek, saying good night to him at last and going to his own bedroom,
felt that it was a long, long way from being time wasted.

What Dollops thought is, perhaps, best told by the fact that he burst
out crying when Cleek came in in the morning to ask how he had slept.

"Slept, Gov'nor!" he said. "Why, bless your 'eart, sir, I couldn't a
slept better on a bed of roses, nor 'ad 'arf such comfort. Feel like I
needed someone to lend me a biff on the coco, sir, to make sure as I
aren't a dreamin'--it's so wot a cove fancies 'Eaven to be like, sir."

And afterward, when the day was older, and they had gone to Richmond,
and Cleek--in his boating flannels--was pulling him up the shining river
and talking to him again as he had talked last night, he felt that it
was even more like Heaven than ever.

It was after four--long after--when they finally separated and Cleek,
leaving the boy in charge of the boat, stepped ashore in the
neighbourhood of the inn of the Three Jolly Fishermen and went to keep
his appointment with Narkom.

He found him enjoying tea at a little round table in the niche of a big
bay window in the small private parlour which lay immediately behind the
bar-room.

"My dear chap, do forgive me for not waiting," said the superintendent