For a minute or two I thought I'd found your uncle; I really
did. Gosh! I said to myself, there's Clover at last! I wonder I
didn't pin him like a bull terrier. But, as you know, I'm
cautious--that's how I've made my fortune, Polly."
Miss Sparkes neither observed the joke nor resented the name; she
was listening with a preoccupied air.
"You'll never find _him_," said Mrs. Bubb, shaking her head.
"Don't be so sure of that. I shan't lose sight of this man Quodling.
It's the strangest likeness I ever saw, and I shan't be satisfied
till I've got to know if he has any connexion with the name of
Clover. It ain't easy to get at, but I'll manage it somehow. Now, if
I had Polly to help me--I mean Miss Sparkes--"
With a muttering of impatience the girl rose; in the same moment she
drew from her belt a gold watch, and deliberately consulted it.
Observing this Mrs. Bubb looked towards Mr. Gammon, who, also
observant, returned the glance.
"I shan't want dinner," Polly remarked in an off-hand way as she
moved towards the door.
"Going to see Mrs.
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