“All right,” returned Toto. “I’m precious sharp, though you may not think so, and shall go in for all kinds of elegant accomplishments, and come out a regular masher.” “Wonders will never cease,” answered one of the men. “When you go on your trip for action in the Bois among the toffs, will you take me with you?” “Any one can go to the Bois who has money: and just tell me who are those who make money. Why, those who have plenty of cheek and a good sound business. Well, I have learned my business from some real downy cards, who made it pay well. Why should I not do the same?” With a sickening feeling of terror, Tantaine saw that the lad was half drunk. What could he be going to say? and how much did he know? Toto’s guests evidently saw that he had taken too much; but as he seemed ready to let them into a secret, they paid great attention, and exchanged a look of intelligence. The young rogue’s new clothes and his liberality all proved that he had found a means of gaining money; the only question was what the plan could be. To induce him to talk they passed the bottle rapidly and flattered him up. The younger man of the two shook his head with a smile. “I don’t believe you have any business at all,” said he. “Nor have I, if by business you mean some low handicraft. It is brain work I mean, my boy; and that’s what I do.” “I don’t doubt that a bit,” answered the elder guest coaxingly. “Come on! Tell us what it is,” broke in the other. “You don’t expect us to take your word.” “It is as easy as lying,” replied Toto. “Listen a bit, and you shall have the whole bag of tricks. Suppose I saw Polyte steal a couple of pairs of boots from a trotter-case seller’s stall----” Polyte interrupted the narrator, protesting so strongly that he would not commit such an act, that Tantaine perceived at once that some such trifling act of larceny weighed heavily on his conscience. “You needn’t kick up such a row,” returned Toto. “I am only just putting it as a thing that might happen. We will say you had done the trick, and that I had twigged you. Do you know what I should go? Well, I would hunt up Polyte, and say quietly, ‘Halves, old man, or I will split.’” “And I should give you a crack in the jaw,” returned Polyte angrily. Forgetting his fine dress, Toto playfully put his thumb to his nose and extended his fingers. “You would not be such an ass,” said he. “You would say to yourself, ‘If I punch this chap, he will kick up no end of a row, and I shall be taken up, and perhaps sent to the mill.’ No; you would be beastly civil, and would end by doing just as I wished.” “And this is what you call your business, is it?” “Isn’t it a good one--the mugs stand the racket, and the downy cards profit by it?” “But there is no novelty in this; it is only blackmail after all.” “I never said it wasn’t; but it is blackmailing perfected into a system.” As Toto made this reply he hammered on the table, calling for more drink.