"Look up!" cried the speaker, again plucking his hair. Ginger complied, and beheld the monkey seated beside him. "Vy, it can't be, sure_ly_," he cried. "And yet I could almost svear it was Old Parr." "You're near the mark," replied the other, with a shrill laugh. "It is your venerable friend." "Vot the deuce are you doing here, and in this dress, or rayther undress?" inquired Ginger. "Ven I see you this mornin', you wos in the serwice of Mr. Loftus." "I've got a new master since then," replied the dwarf. "I'm sorry to hear it," said Ginger, shaking his head. "You haven't sold yourself, like Doctor Forster--eh?" "Faustus, my dear Ginger--not Forster," corrected Old Parr. "No, no, I've made no bargain. And to be plain with you, I've no desire to remain long in my present master's service." "I don't like to ask the question too directly, wenerable," said Ginger, in a deprecatory tone--"but is your master--hem!--is he--hem!--the--the----" "The devil, you would say," supplied Old Parr. "Between ourselves, I'm afraid there's no denying it." "La! wot a horrible idea!" exclaimed Ginger, with a shudder; "it makes the flesh creep on one's bones. Then we're in your master's power?" "Very like it," replied Old Parr. "And there ain't no chance o' deliverance?" "None that occurs to me." "O Lord! O Lord!" groaned Ginger; "I'll repent. I'll become a reformed character. I'll never steal dogs no more." "In that case, there may be some chance for you," said Old Parr. "I think I could help you to escape. Come with me, and I'll try and get you out." "But wot is to become of the others?" demanded Ginger. "Oh, leave them to their fate," replied Old Parr. "No, that'll never do," cried Ginger. "Ve're all in the same boat, and must row out together the best vay ve can. I tell you wot it is, wenerable," he added, seizing him by the throat--"your master may be the devil, but you're mortal; and if you don't help me to deliver my companions, I'll squeege your windpipe for you." "That's not the way to induce me to help you," said Old Parr, twisting himself like an eel out of the other's gripe. "Now get out, if you can." "Don't be angry," cried Ginger, seeing the mistake he had committed, and trying to conciliate him; "I only meant to frighten you a bit. Can you tell me if Mr. Auriol Darcy is here?" "Yes, he is, and a close prisoner," replied Old Parr. "And the girl--Miss Ebber, wot of her?" "I can't say," rejoined Old Parr. "I can only speak to the living." "Then she's dead!" cried Ginger, with a look of horror. "That's a secret," replied the dwarf mysteriously; "and I'm bound by a terrible oath not to disclose it." "I'll have it out of you notvithstandin'," muttered Ginger. "I vish you would lend me a knock on the head, old feller. I can't help thinkin' I've got a terrible fit o' the nightmare." "Let this waken you, then," said Old Parr, giving him a sound buffet on the ear. "Holloa, wenerable! not so hard!" cried Ginger.