CHAPTER XXX 



MR WELSH 



Mr Giveen, on his enlargement, had returned 

 hot-foot to London. The chicken-higgler's cart 

 that had given him a lift on the road had deposited 

 him at Blankmoor station, where he had managed 

 to get the last train up to town. 



Too confused and shaken up with his adventures 

 to do anything that night he had repaired to 

 Swan's Temperance Hotel in the Strand, 

 where his luggage was, told his tale to the land- 

 lady, received her commiserations, and gone to 

 bed. 



Next morning at ten o'clock he appeared at 

 the office of Mr Lewis in Craven Street. 



" Is Mr Lewis in? " asked Giveen. 



" What name, please? " asked the clerk. 



" Just tell him a gentleman from Ireland wants 

 to see him," repHed Giveen. " Tell him it's on 

 important business about Mr French. He'll 

 know." 



A moment later he found himself in the inner 

 office, before a desk table, at which an elderly 

 gentleman with grey whiskers was opening his 

 morning letters. 



" Mr Lewis? " said Mr Giveen. 

 325 



