"
She led the way down the black,
unsafe stairway. She always led.
Outside the fog had thickened
again, but she went through it as if
she could see her way.
At the entrance to the court the
thief was standing, leaning against
the wall with fevered, unhopeful
waiting in his eyes. He moved
miserably when he saw the girl, and
she called out to reassure him.
"I ain't up to no 'arm," she
said; "I on'y come with the gent."
Antony Dart spoke to him.
"Did you get food?"
The man shook his head.
"I turned faint after you left me,
and when I came to I was afraid I
might miss you," he answered. "I
daren't lose my chance. I bought
some bread and stuffed it in my
pocket. I've been eating it while
I've stood here."
"Come back with us," said Dart.
"We are in a place where we have
some food."
He spoke mechanically, and was
aware that he did so. He was a
pawn pushed about upon the board
of this day's life.
"Come on," said the girl. "Yer
can get enough to last fer three
days."
She guided them back through the
fog until they entered the murky
doorway again. Then she almost
ran up the staircase to the room they
had left.
When the door opened the thief
fell back a pace as before an unex-
pected thing. It was the flare of
firelight which struck upon his eyes.
He passed his hand over them.
"A fire!" he said. "I haven't
seen one for a week. Coming out
of the blackness it gives a man a
start.
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