Find out, too, if you can, when his boy came to live at Balfour's over the way, and where he came from.

You may stumble upon what I want very soon, or it may take you all winter.

If you should fail then, I shall want you to take the road from here to Sevenoaks, and even to Number Nine, looking into all the alms-houses on the way.

The great point is to find out whether he is alive or dead, and to know, if he is dead, where, and exactly when, he died.

In the meantime, come to me every week with a written report of what you have done, and get your pay.