"Why did not you?"

"Why? How could I? He would have recognized me. There would have been
a scene,--a row, a flare up, a mob round us, I dare say. I had no idea
it would so upset me; to see him selling matches too; glad we did not
meet at Gatesboro'. Not even for that L100 do I think I could have faced
him. No; as he said when we last parted, 'The world is wide enough for
both.' Give me some brandy; thank you."

"You did not speak to the old man; he did not see you: but you wanted to
get back the child; you felt sure she must be with him; you followed him
home?"

"I? No; I should have had to wait for hours. A man like me, loitering
about London Bridge! I should have been too conspicuous; he would have
soon caught sight of me, though I kept on his blind side. I employed a
ragged boy to watch and follow him, and here is the address. Now, will
you get Sophy back for me without any trouble to me, without my
appearing? I would rather charge a regiment of horse-guards than bully
that old man."

"Yet you would rob him of the child,--his sole comfort?"

"Bother!" cried Losely, impatiently; "the child can be only a burden to
him; well out of his way; 't is for the sake of that child he is selling
matches! It would be the greatest charity we could do him to set him
free from that child sponging on him, dragging him down; without her he'd
find a way to shift for himself. Why, he's even cleverer than I am! And
there--there; give him this money, but don't say it came from me."