"No; because no captain would take him as a sailor, and he'd not be able to raise money to go even as a steerage passenger. Besides, he wouldn't risk it, as he'd know that all the outward bound vessels might be searched for him by that man of his--Poole, I think you called him."
"But don't you suppose he may have left by railway, and gone to some other large town?"
"Of course he may, but I don't think he has, because he'll have sense enough to know that he can't have much to spare for travelling, if he's gambled away his ready money, and don't mean to ask you for any more."
"Perhaps he has done, or means to do, something desperate," said Lady Oldfield, tremblingly; "he seemed to hint at something of the kind in his letter to me."
"No, he'll not do that, I think--at least not just yet. Habitual drunkards have seldom got it in them. They'll talk big, but still they'll go on hanging about where they can get the drink."
"Then you believe that he is still in Liverpool?" said Sir Thomas.
"I do think so. Was your son fond of low company when he lived at home?"
Poor Sir Thomas and his wife winced at this question, but it was put by the superintendent simply as a matter of business.
"Why, not exactly," was the reply; "that is to say, he never frequented any gatherings of low people, as far as I know. But he was very much in the habit of making a companion of my under-groom, Juniper Graves."
"Then he's most likely hooked in with a low set--that makes it easier."
"Do you suppose that he is still in connection with any such set?" asked Lady Oldfield.
"Pretty certain, if he has let out, when he was tipsy, that his father is a gentleman of property. They'll help him on a bit, if they think there's a chance of bleeding him again."
"But you know he has resolved to keep us in ignorance of his abode, and all about himself."
"Yes, he meant it when he wrote; but when he's so hard up as to be near starving, perhaps he'll change his mind."
"How then would you propose to proceed?" asked Sir Thomas.
The superintendent thought for half a minute, and then said,--
"Have you a photograph of your son with you?"
"I have," said the poor mother. She took it out of her pocket-book, and handed it to the officer. He looked at it very carefully for some time, and then said,--