But at this moment steps were heard slowly approaching, and Hermione uttered an inarticulate cry, then spoke in an agonised whisper:  “Arthur!”

Pallid of cheek and drooping of head Spike stood in the doorway, his shabby, threadbare clothes dusty and travel-stained, his slender shape encircled by the Spider’s long arm.  At Hermione’s cry he lifted his head and looked up yearningly, his sensitive mouth quivered, his long-lashed eyes swam in sudden tears, he strove to speak but choked instead; then Ravenslee’s calm, pleasant voice broke the painful silence.

“Old Un,” said he, rising, “I understand you are fond of jam—­well, from now on you shall bathe in it if you wish.”

“Spoke like a true sport, Guv!”

“Why, you see, you have surely done me a very great service.”

“Meanin’ because I found ye th’ murderer.”

“Murderer?” exclaimed Ravenslee, staring.

“Why, yes—­there ’e is!” and the old man pointed a long finger at the shrinking Spike.

“Old Un,” said Ravenslee, shaking his head, “don’t joke with me—­”

“I—­I ain’t jokin’, Guv,” cried the Old Un, rising.  “Why—­oh, Lorgorramighty, you don’t mean t’ say as this ain’t ’im?  Why, ’e ’s confessed, Guv; I ’eard ’im!”

Ravenslee smiled gently and shook his head again.

“But he has been sick, Old Un; he was hurt, you know, when he saved my life.”

“But, Lord, Guv, if ’e ’s confessed—­”

“He has been sick, Old Un, and when we are sick the wisest of us are apt to say silly things—­even I did, so they tell me.”

“What?” quavered the old man, “ain’t I—­ain’t I found no murderer for ye, arter all, Guv?”

“You’ve done something much, very much better, Old Un—­you’ve found me my brother!”

“Brother!” echoed Spike, “brother?  Oh, Geoff—­” he sighed deeply, and as Ravenslee crossed toward him he smiled wanly and sank swooning into the supporting arms of the Spider, who at a word from Hermione bore the boy up-stairs; but scarcely was he laid upon his bed than he opened his heavy eyes.

“Say, Spider,” said he wearily, “old Geoff sure does play square—­even to a worm like me—­well, I guess!  No, don’t go yet, I want yer to hear me try to explain the kind o’ dirty dog I been—­I guess he won’t want t’ call me ‘brother’ after that; no, siree, he’ll cut me out same as you have an’ serve me right too.”  Then turning toward where Ravenslee and Hermione stood he continued:  “Geoff—­Hermy, dear—­ah, no, don’t touch me, I ain’t worth it.  I’m too dirty—­Spider says so—­an’ I guess he’s right.  Listen—­I meant t’ go away t’day an’ leave you because I felt so mean, but th’ old man followed me, an’ I couldn’t run because my arm pained some—­y’ see, I fell on it.  So I let him bring me back because I guess it’s up t’ me t’ let you know as I ain’t fit t’ be your brother, Geoff—­or Hermy’s.”  For a moment Spike paused, then with an effort he continued but kept his face averted.  “Geoff, it was me—­in the wood that time!  Yes, it was me, an’ I had a gun.  I—­I meant—­t’ do you in, Geoff—­”