"But what on earth do you want here?"

Diamond told him plainly what he was about, and of course the man
believed him, for nobody ever disbelieved Diamond. People might
think he was mistaken, but they never thought he was telling a story.

"It's an ugly place," said the policeman.

"Is it far off?" asked Diamond.

"No. It's next door almost. But it's not safe."

"Nobody hurts me," said Diamond.

"I must go with you, I suppose."

"Oh, no! please not," said Diamond. "They might think I was going
to meddle with them, and I ain't, you know."

"Well, do as you please," said the man, and gave him full directions.

Diamond set off, never suspecting that the policeman, who was a
kind-hearted man, with children of his own, was following him close,
and watching him round every corner. As he went on, all at once
he thought he remembered the place, and whether it really was so,
or only that he had laid up the policeman's instructions well in
his mind, he went straight for the cellar of old Sal.

"He's a sharp little kid, anyhow, for as simple as he looks,"
said the man to himself. "Not a wrong turn does he take!