"I shall refrain from commenting," drawled Branstoke, leaning back in his chair. "What exactly brings you here, Hewitt?"
Hewitt puffed on his pipe a moment. "This Thornbridge fella yer set me to foller, he's a reg'lar bob cull, peery and not cow'hearted. Pluck up to the backbone, he is. Still, no 'countin' for why he's been in places he don't belong if yer catches my drift. But, I figures that's why yer arsked me to foller the cull."
"Such contingencies had occurred to me," murmured Branstoke.
Hewitt nodded and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. "First few days he jest made the rounds o' the City like I reported to Rowley here."
"To the various banking and legal establishments, asking questions about Randolph Haukstrom?"
"Aye. Couldn't figure his interest in that cove. Bad cess. Then it's wot starts gettin' interest'n like. He dons an old mish and topper," he said, grabbing his coat lapels in example, "and visits gull gropers and abbesses. All manner of 'em. He finally comes out of one house, his fiz white and all queer-like. After he went home t'bed, I nipped back there reet quick."
"And?"
"He worn't arsk'n about Haukstrom. He wor arsk'n questions 'bout missin' gels. He learnt from one bawd of a parlor boarder wot wor sold fer a fiver to a flash cove. Purty ginger-hackled thing she wor, and fresh from the country. No one's heard wot happened to her."
"Sounds a bad business. Any idea what caused him to ask those questions?"
"No, I'm sorry to say. Next night he gets all fancied dressed like some curst dandy and visits the fancy bawds. Afterward, they worn't as forthcoming to yurs truly as I'd a liked, howsomever, he wor arsk'n the same sorta questions. After this, he begins to look'n real peaky. He spends long hours at his office, and wanders down on the wharf in deep thinkin', arsk'n more fool questions." Hewitt drained his brandy glass.
Branstoke leaned forward to refill it. "I somehow get the impression that we are approaching the reason behind this meeting. Proceed, Mr. Hewitt."
"Someone didn't like wot he's doin', that's fer sure. I've a mind to do some extry checkin' on my own. I don't like deep secretive rumbles of flash coves with lays in me district. T'ain't seemly. Nor coves settin' themselves up as badgers when it's plain as a pikestaff they ain't."
Branstoke straightened, his eyes narrowing even more as he studied Mr. Hewitt.
That man relit his pipe and sucked in deeply. "The bob cull was bit, sar, and would be cockin' his toes now if it worn't fer yurs truly."
"Thornbridge was attacked?"
"Attacked? Lor' guv'ner, worn't no simple thievery they had in mind. They wanted to hush the cull, and that's a fact. He's a gamecock, though. Looked to advantage. But there wor too many of 'em and I seed he wor tirin', so I squeaked beef and laid club law on 'em. That set the sniveling lot running. The bob cull took a chive in his side. Claret flowed purty freely 'afore I could get him to a bone setter."
"He's still alive?"
"Aye, and likely to stay that way if he rests. Kept ramblin' on, though, bout Mrs. Waddley." He shook his head. "Wouldn't a taken him as one to give a feller horns."
Branstoke smiled grimly. "I assure you, he did not. It's Mrs. Waddley who requested he investigate certain matters for her. Haukstrom's her brother."
Hewitt whistled softly.
"Exactly. But what I want to know is what does Haukstrom have to do with missing prostitutes? Was Haukstrom the one who bought the girl?"
"No, I already checked that, guv'ner. The descriptions don't match."
Branstoke was silent a moment, his lips pursed in thought. He looked at Hewitt. "I know your debt to be cleared by your saving Mr. Thornbridge's life, and I thank you. However, I have further need of your assistance."
A slow grin pulled Hewitt's thin face tight. "I was hopin' yer might, guv'ner. Of course, this bein' a business-like arrangement . . ."
"Yes, Mr. Hewitt, you will be well paid for your time. I want you to see if you can discover what the connection is and where Thornbridge's line of questioning was leading him. Since you no longer have to watch over Mr. Thornbridge, that should free you considerably."
"Aye, that it will."
"Now, my concern becomes for Mrs. Waddley. I shudder to imagine what she shall attempt once she learns of Thornbridge's misfortune. George, we need to see that no harm comes to her. I want her followed, and her house watched. Arrange for it. I don't trust her not to do something foolish, like attempt a midnight foray to the harbor."
"Plucky wench," observed Mr. Hewitt.
Branstoke grinned. "How right you are, Mr. Hewitt. How right you are."
* * *
