"Two words will do with Gooseberry, where twenty would be wanted with another boy."
Before he could say more, his coat-tail was respectfully pulled by his attendant sprite with the gooseberry eyes.
"Gooseberry, and my second man, have evidently followed somebody else.
"Either Gooseberry has run away, or he is hunting on his own account.
Was the person Gooseberry? No: only the man who had been employed to follow Mr.
On being brought into the room, Gooseberry stopped at the threshold of the door, and looked distrustfully at the stranger who was in my company.
The fame of the great Cuff had even reached the ears of the small Gooseberry. The boy's ill-fixed eyes rolled, when I mentioned the illustrious name, till I thought they really must have dropped on the carpet.
"They call me Gooseberry at the office because of my eyes."
"Octavius Guy, otherwise Gooseberry," pursued the Sergeant, with the utmost gravity, "you were missed at the bank yesterday.
"Gooseberry," said the Sergeant, patting his head, "you have got something in that small skull of yours--and it isn't cotton-wool.
I wrote at once to quiet the old gentleman's mind, by telling him of Sergeant Cuff's visit: adding that Gooseberry was at that moment under examination; and promising to inform Mr.
There isn't a doubt on my mind that this boy--this most meritorious boy," added the Sergeant, patting Gooseberry on the head, "has followed the right man.
In five minutes more, Sergeant Cuff and I (with Gooseberry on the box to guide the driver) were on our way eastward, towards the City.
He saw it; and confined himself more strictly to Gooseberry's evidence when he went on.
